Air Masses

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/03/polar-vortex-canada-winter_n_6096860.html
The Above image shows the  most current  weather predictions for this winter.
As you can see, Montreal is expected mostly snowstorms.

Montreal is the perfect place to be if you enjoy moist conditions. Its climate is heavily influenced by its location, because Montreal is in upper North America it  is mostly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.The Atlantic ocean allows for heavy precipitation in Montreal to occur yearly.  Its winters are heavily precipitated, and as per the information  from the National Climate Data Center the winters in Montreal are severe with low temperatures of 17 degrees Fahrenheit and as for summers to consist of highs up to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. Montreal makes perfect living for those who enjoy cloudy days and the smell of rain.

AIR MASSES  
In simplest terms according to the National Geographic is "An air mass is a large volume of air in the atmosphere that is mostly uniform in temperature and Moisture, Air masses can extend thousands of kilometers across the surface of the Earth, and can reach from ground level to the stratosphere—16 kilometers (10 miles) into the atmosphere". There are a series of  different air masses  that hoover over North America such as Continental Arctic (cA), Continental Polar (cP) , Continental Tropical (cT), Maritime Polar (mP), and Maritime Tropical (mT). 

The above image is the affect of air masses in North America.

weatherunderground.com

-Continental Arctic(cA)

        - Extremely cold temperatures

        - Originate in the arctic circle

-Continental Polar(cP)

        - Cold and dry

-Continental Tropical (cT)

        - Hot, very dry

        - In northern New Mexico

-Maritime Polar(mP)

        - cool and moist

-Maritime Tropical (mT)

        - warm very humid

As stated in blog 1, the the winters are cold and summers are warm , Montreal's location near the large body of water is in part affected mostly by Maritime Polar (mP) which is cool and moist therefore, "an air mass that develops over northern Canada is called a maritime polar(mP) air mass and is cold and dry"(National Geographic). Montreal, however, is affected by continental polar(cP) and continental arctic(cA) in the winter, and maritime tropical in the summer. In a recent weather forecast  for January 7th 2015,  by CTV Montreal stated "Experts are warning Quebecers to take precautions as the arctic air mass descends", their forecast was in relation to its extreme drop in temperature and possible snow fall. 

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VIEW FORECAST >http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=526917

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/11/18/another-arctic-cold-front-for-dfw-when-it-arrives/
 The above image shows the cold front  North of the Canadian/ US Border.

MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES

 Montreal, Quebec , Canada is unfortunately prone to mid-latitude cyclones. A mid-latitude cyclone si a huge weather system that forms between a low pressure system and high pressure system that cover a large area of precipiation. Mid-latitude cyclones are most prone to occur in the winter, and are the main cause for heavy snowfall, and sometimes blizzards. According to  NC university, " Locations more prone to mid-latitude cyclone development are the Gulf of Mexico, off the East Coast, and the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The first two locations mentioned allow moist air off of the water to ride up over the colder air over the land because of the counter-clockwise movement of the wind around low pressure systems.(NC State University) 

The above image is  a mid-Latitude cyclone, emerging over Canada and moving into southern Quebec
https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/geog-203-study-guide-2014-15-lafon/deck/12797081 

TOPOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES
Quebec in general is influenced by climate from  western and northern Canada, this climate then moves east  to south into the United states. However, most of central Quebec  has long  winters and short warm summers beca use of high influences of the high altitude  and the influence of the Arctic air asses. Precipitation in  south Quebec is somewhat less, except at high elevations. The Arctic Ocean currents, and the Continental air masses from the  Arctic mostly affect the  northern region in quebec.

SOURCES
- http://ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-information 
-http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/air-mass/?ar_a=1 
- http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wamsorce/wamsorce.htm
-http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.mlc
-https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/geog-203-study-guide-2014-15-lafon/deck/12797081