Sun cream, parasol and little thirst-quenching cocktails are essential: the heat and good weather settled in the St. Lawrence Valley on Monday and should stay there until Wednesday inclusive.
In southwestern Quebec, and particularly throughout the metropolitan region of Montreal, the temperature rose above 30°C on Monday, a threshold which will certainly also be exceeded on Tuesday and Wednesday. We will also benefit from a feeling of 34 (with the Humidex factor) on Wednesday in Greater Montreal.
This kind of temperature reminiscent of late July is not that unusual, however; the first heatwave of 2023 took place almost exactly at this time last year, between May 31 and June 2.
But can we speak of a heatwave in this case? Not quite.
“It’s a warm air mass that approaches the criteria for a heatwave,” explains Nicholas Elder, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
Although we will exceed 30°C for more than three days, the temperature will not stay above 20°C at night, a perceptible difference which can be explained in particular by the absence of cloud cover and by low humidity. Hence the almost scorching status of this heat wave.
According to Nicholas Elder, this episode does not necessarily reflect the summer we are about to experience. “It’s a rather isolated event, the kind that happens from time to time in the province. »
It will continue to be hot on Thursday, with temperatures around 28°C, but rain is expected to spoil the party in the metropolitan area. We can expect a return to normal on Friday, which also promises to be rainy, and a very ordinary weekend.
Week of extremes in some regions
With these more than mild temperatures, certain corners of Quebec, such as Abitibi-Témiscamingue, will have experienced an incredible meteorological week.
Hard to believe, but last Wednesday, the temperature dropped below freezing to reach -1°C in Rouyn-Noranda. Snow had also covered certain parts of the Abitibian soil and a frost warning had been issued by Environment Canada for the entire administrative region.
A week later, however, we risk breaking the temperature record for June 5 in Rouyn-Noranda (26.5 °C, established in 2006), while 31 °C is announced.
“Yes, it’s not common, but it happens sometimes,” said Nicholas Elder. The meteorologist explains that it is simply a change – albeit abrupt – in air masses.