After breaking a heat record dating back to 1893 on Thursday, Montreal could experience the earliest heat wave in the coming days since these data have been systematically recorded.
Posted at 9:00 a.m.
Already, Montrealers were particularly hot for May 12. The 30.3°C recorded on Thursday exceeded the previous record of 28.9°C set on the same date by more than one degree.
And it’s far from over. According to Environment Canada meteorologist Dominic Martel, the metropolitan area could very well break heat records on Friday and Saturday.
To do this, it would be necessary to exceed the marks of 28.5°C for May 13 and 29.2°C for May 14. However, more than 30 ° C is announced for these two days, the hottest temperature to be reached on Saturday.
“So technically it would be a heat wave. “Environment Canada defines a heat wave as a period of three consecutive days with a maximum of 30 ° C and more mercury, regardless of the Humidex factor, explains Dominic Martel.
If we have it [cette canicule]it would be the earliest since these data have been recorded.
Dominic Martel, meteorologist at Environment Canada
The earliest heat wave ever recorded by meteorologists would have started on May 17, 1911, five days later than this year.
Not so uncomfortable
It’s no wonder that hot weather doesn’t particularly affect you. “It’s not like a heatwave in July or August where temperatures stay uncomfortable overnight. At the moment it stays around 15°C [la nuit] “, emphasizes Dominic Martel.
Because moist air warms and cools more slowly, current temperatures vary wildly between day and night, he adds.
They should then gradually approach seasonal norms starting on Sunday, when showers will begin to affect the province. “Sunday, we should have showers in a disorganized form, which should continue on Monday”, specifies Dominique Martel.
Despite everything, in the face of this early heat, several Montreal boroughs have taken the initiative to open water play modules or will do so in the coming days. This is particularly the case in Ville-Marie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, Lachine, LaSalle, Outremont, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie and the Southwest.
Allergy season
At the same time, MétéoMedia reported a very high pollen rate in the metropolis as the trees began to release it. They will be gradually replaced by grasses and then ragweed as the summer progresses.
Coupled with very dry air, this data can explain your sneezing, according to Dominic Martel. “The fact that it’s dry doesn’t help. People who have trouble breathing often feel it at this time, and [ç’a été] the case [jeudi] while we [avait] low relative humidity,” he explains.
According to the Quebec government website, one in five people suffer from seasonal rhinitis, also known as hay fever, especially during ragweed season.
However, bad news for this fifth of the population, it could see its suffering extend over the years due to climate change and the lengthening of the pollen season, explains Professor Alain Paquette, from the department of biological sciences of the University of Quebec in Montreal.
“It won’t surprise anyone, but it starts earlier, because spring comes earlier. Take for example last year, particularly. What is a little surprising is that in addition to starting earlier, [la saison des pollens] also tends to last, to last,” explains the man who also holds the Urban Forest Research Chair.
But this is not the only factor that may explain a worsening of seasonal allergies in the future.
The increase in pollution, an element that often irritates the respiratory tract and contributes to the unpleasant feeling associated with seasonal allergies, would also increase the effects of pollen tenfold. Not to mention the proliferation of concrete and asphalt in cities, “hard surfaces, unlike in nature […]which are abrasive and break up the pollen grains, making them more allergenic,” says Alain Paquette.