Ed Cowell, an institution in Montreal weather forecasting, headed into retirement on a cool, sunny Friday morning as accolades poured in for the CJAD veteran.

Cowell, 65, signed off after more than 20 years on the air.

He began with Environment Canada in the 1960s and he ended his career with daily radio reports from the CJAD Weather Centre, which was actually a room in Cowell's home in Rigaud, west of Montreal.

Morning man Andrew Carter, who hosted Cowell's swan song on Friday, called him a class act and an institution.

"When you meet Montrealers and they're complaining about the weather, they don't say it's raining today -- they say Ed Cowell said it's going to rain today," said Carter.

"It's marvelous to have been associated with such a legend."

Cowell came into CJAD's downtown studios for his final weather reports on Friday morning and a litany of well-known Montrealers, including former prime minister Brian Mulroney, called in for the penultimate broadcast.

"I just wanted to call and wish him well in his retirement," said Mulroney.

"I think it's terrific. He's had a great run at it there and deserves a peaceful and pleasant retirement."

The routine

Cowell has enjoyed the routine of rising at 5 a.m., checking the forecasts, satellite maps and other data in the computer in his upstairs home office and then tweaking them - a lot.

He admits he has blown it big sometimes, usually on nor' easter snow storms from the United States.

But he claims an accuracy rate of between and 85 and 90 per cent on his forecasts.

History

Cowell says he was always interested in nature and weather, answering an ad for the civil service after high school.

He became a meteorologist with Environment Canada where he worked the microphones for multiple radio stations.

"We did radio work in French, English," said Cowell, who spent 33 years at the national weather service.

"We did a lot of stations for all kinds of various towns and cities."

From CBC to CJAD

Cowell did forecasts exclusively for CBC Radio's Montreal, northern Quebec and international services before CJAD hired him.

In retirement

At 65, Ed may be retiring but he's staying very active, pursuing his passion for racing sailboats.

He built his current home in Rigaud and plans to build another on the waterfront.

Cowell is looking forward to vacations and spending more time with family, including three daughters.

Wife Brenda jokes that she's building a bigger "honey-do" list for Ed.

Meanwhile, Carter says he hopes "the sun shines on every single day of your retirement."