Folks, we’re in the middle of a classic April transition tonight, and mother nature is throwing us one last curveball before things finally turn the corner. That freezing rain in Montreal proper? It’s already winding down, but we’ve got some tricky conditions developing as temps drop through the night.

Right now, we’re sitting right at the freezing mark across the metro area, but there’s a spread from Terrebonne at -4°C to Montreal island hovering around -1°C. That northwest wind at 13 km/h is doing us no favours with wind chills hitting -8°C in some spots. If you’re heading out late tonight, watch for slick spots where that freezing rain hit earlier – parking lots and side streets are going to be sketchy until the salt trucks make another pass.

Tonight Into Wednesday Morning

Here’s where it gets interesting. We’re going to drop to a crisp -6°C by dawn, but the good news is skies are clearing out completely. The HRDPS model has been nailing this pattern all day – high pressure building in from the west is going to give us crystal clear conditions but at the cost of some serious radiational cooling.

For the morning commute Wednesday, you’re looking at brutal wind chills around -10°C at 6 AM, but sunshine right from the get-go. The 401 and Decarie should be fine by then, though watch for black ice on the Champlain Bridge approaches where that freezing rain lingered.

The Big Warmup

Wednesday afternoon is when we finally break free from this cold snap. We’re talking a 13-degree swing from morning low to afternoon high, hitting 7°C by mid-afternoon. That southwest wind kicks in around noon and just flips the script entirely. I haven’t seen a temperature turnaround this dramatic since early March.

But don’t put the winter gear away just yet. Thursday brings our next weather maker – a clipper system tracking through with some light rain and winds gusting to 26 km/h. Nothing major, just enough to remind us it’s still early April.

The Weekend Reality Check

Friday is where things get messy again. The Euro and GFS are both showing a more substantial low pressure system moving through with legitimate rainfall totals. We’re looking at 14mm, which isn’t drought-busting but enough to create some puddles and slow down traffic. Temps hover around 9°C, so at least it’s all rain, not the mixed mess we dealt with today.

This is classic April weather – one day you’re scraping ice, the next you’re thinking about patios.

What You Need to Know

Tonight: Bundle up like it’s February. We’re talking winter coat, gloves, the works. That wind chill is no joke.

Wednesday morning: Give yourself extra time. Even with sunshine, those early temps will keep any remaining wet spots frozen solid until about 9 AM.

The rest of the week: Keep a light jacket handy, but you can finally ditch the heavy winter gear. Friday’s rain might mess with outdoor plans, but Saturday and Sunday look decent for April standards.

And yes, I’m already tracking next week’s pattern. Let’s just say this warming trend has legs.