Roller-coaster forecast delivers flurries, rain and a flash of spring in Montreal

Residents can expect a blustery and cold Thursday, with a few morning flurries tapering off near noon before skies remain mainly cloudy through the afternoon.

Westerly winds at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h, will keep the wind chill biting. Although the daytime high will reach minus–4 Celsius, it will feel closer to minus–15 C this morning and minus–10 C this afternoon. The UV index sits at 2, or low.

Tonight, conditions turn partly cloudy before increasing cloud cover after midnight. There is a 40 per cent chance of flurries toward morning. Overnight lows will dip to minus–11 C, with wind chills near minus–16 C.

Friday will remain mainly cloudy, with a 40 per cent chance of flurries and a high of minus–1 C. Morning wind chills could make it feel as cold as minus–16 C before moderating to minus–5 C in the afternoon.

A significant shift arrives late Friday night, when cloudy periods bring a 60 per cent chance of showers and a milder low of minus–2 C.

Saturday continues the unsettled trend, with cloudy skies and a 60 per cent chance of showers. Temperatures will climb well above freezing to a high of 9 C, a sharp contrast from the deep freeze earlier in the week. However, the reprieve will be short-lived. Flurries are possible Saturday night as temperatures tumble to minus–11 C.

Sunshine returns Sunday as skies clear, but colder air settles back in. The high will only reach minus–8 C, with a frigid overnight low of minus–17 C.

The new week begins bright but cold, with sunny skies Monday and a high of minus–6 C. Clear conditions overnight will bring temperatures down to minus–13 C.

By Tuesday, a mix of sun and cloud pushes the high to minus–1 C, followed by cloudy periods and a low of minus–4 C. A gradual warming trend continues into Wednesday, when a mix of sun and cloud is expected and temperatures rise to a high of 5 C.

After a brief taste of spring this weekend, winter appears reluctant to loosen its grip.