Thunderstorm in Montreal - March 11th, 2021

***I STRONGLY RECOMMEND USING EARPHONES/HEADPHONES (BASS AMPLIFIED) TO HEAR THE MORE NATURAL SOUND OF THE THUNDER/RAIN***
A video compilation highlighting a small and isolated (and elevated) non-severe thunderstorm cluster that affected the Rigaud-Saint Lazare sub-area, Lachute-Saint Placide, Western Laval, and the extreme NE section of the West Island during the mid-evening period. This was the first thunderstorm occurrence for this general area and narrowly island of Montreal for this year (2021), as well as the island of Montreal (via the West Island). This was also among one of the earliest thunderstorm days to occur in this general area (including the island).
The thunderstorm cluster was associated with lift favorably produced by a strong and broad mid- to upper-level trough, as well as a sharp surface cold front. Afternoon solar heating further assisted to increase instability, together with steep cooling rates aloft. Furthermore, deep SW shearing fields were conducive to some organized and fast-moving deep convection.
The video highlights mostly distant lightning to the WNW and NW during the mid-evening, and then an enduring thunder sound that was associated with a lightning strike that occurred over Western Laval and the NE portion of the West Island (Ile-Bizard) at 8:53 p.m. EST. Heavy rainfall can then be heard following that thunder. On a side note, this was one of the few occasions where I was able to observe thunder/lightning while snow was still on the ground.
Footage was taken from SW Pierrefonds, located in Montreal’s West Island. Radar imagery is courtesy of NOAA.
~Trav.~

[@SkyOfTheUniverse]

Wow Travis! I didn't even know there was a thunderstorm. Is this the earliest storm on record? Perhaps a sign of things to come this year!

[@Rain1290]

Hi Sky Of The Universe! Yes, the vast majority of the island of Montreal did not register this thunderstorm, as it was largely focused to the Northern extent of the West Island, as well as West towards Rigaud-Saint-Lazare, and North to Lachute-Saint-Placide, and then moving NE towards Western Laval and the Blainville-Terrebonne corridor. While this was not the earliest thunderstorm to affect this general area, and the island, it was one of the earliest occurrences that I know of since 2013. There was also the February 24th, 2017 thunderstorm, and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that astonishingly made an appearance the next day in my area. The earliest thunderstorm that I have documented was the January 20th, 2013 early-morning occurrence, although I don't know if that was the earliest one in recorded history. Haha I continue to support more thunderstorm days than usual this year for this general area (including the island within it), so yes, hopefully, this is a sign of that prediction coming to fruition! I hope that all has been well, my friend!

[@celeno31]

beautiful vidéo my friend

[@Rain1290]

Thank you so much, Alain!!

[@studiodewolf]

Nice thunderstorm!

[@Rain1290]

Thanks! Pretty good for early- to mid-March!

[@stephenboggs2939]

What was the temperature when this occurred? Here in Northern Indiana USA this is quite a common thing. Snow...rain...FOGGY AS EVER...then back to cold!

[@Rain1290]

The temperature was 11 C (about 52 F), along with a dewpoint of 3 C (37 F). It is, indeed, back to frigid cold here now! What a contrast!

[@robertsimmons7556]

Wonder why there’s snow on the ground still then having thunderstorms afterwards.

[@Rain1290]

A lot of ground snow this Fall-Winter, despite an ironically long struggle to sustain snow on the ground during November to the first week of January. Mostly by mid-January, a lot of the newer snowfall was remaining on the surface more easily, and that kept building until March 9th. Because this thunderstorm occurrence was unusually early, it coincided with all of this ground snow (despite significant melting over the two days prior), so, indeed, it felt strange watching this while still seeing 20+ cm of snow still on the ground! Thanks for your viewing and comment!

[@robertsimmons7556]

@@Rain1290 no problem 😉