Winter Storm Watch issued for Cornwall and area

Many area residents will return to work on Wednesday after celebrating Christmas for a few days with family and friends. It is very possible that the ride to work Wednesday morning will not be a fun one, as Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Cornwall and area.

PHOTO CREDIT - TheWeatherNetwork.com

Cornwall - December 26, 2011 - Many area residents will return to work on Wednesday after celebrating Christmas for a few days with family and friends. It is very possible that the ride to work Wednesday morning will not be a fun one, as Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Cornwall and area.

There is Potential for heavy wet snowfall in excess of 15 cm during Tuesday night.

A developing low over the southern states will track northeast along the Appalachians Tuesday and intensify as it tracks into Southern Quebec on Tuesday night. In advance of this system, precipitation mainly in the form of light rain, will spread into the watch area Tuesday afternoon. As the low intensifies the rain will change into heavy wet snow during Tuesday evening.

Before the snow ends Wednesday morning, total snowfall amounts in excess of 15 cm are possible with the highest amounts expected closer to the Quebec border. In addition, as the low moves into Quebec a sharp Arctic cold front will cross the area overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning. The much colder air behind the front means that temperatures will drop sharply from near zero to well below freezing in a matter of hours.

While this may result in some slippery surfaces it is unlikely that widespread flash freeze conditions will occur as too much snow will have fallen. Either way, the combination of the snowfall and plummeting temperatures will make for a difficult Wednesday morning commute.