The rise in mercury well beyond seasonal norms could complicate winter outings in the coming days, in Montreal as elsewhere in Quebec, a few days after a winter storm that allowed ski centers in the province to bail out their coffers.
From Larouche, to Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, via Saint-Apollinaire, in Chaudière-Appalaches, and Boischatel, in the Capitale-Nationale, several municipalities announced Friday the temporary closure of their outdoor skating rinks, due to high temperatures. above the freezing level and the rain that will mark the weather conditions in the coming days throughout southern Quebec.
In Montreal, where the mercury will fluctuate between 3 and 9 degrees Celsius the day until next Wednesday, the vast majority of outdoor rinks also remain closed. The refrigerated skating rink on the Esplanade Tranquille, in downtown Montreal, is open, while that of the Old Port will be exceptionally closed on Saturday.
Moreover, the organization Les amis de la montagne confirmed on Friday afternoon the temporary closure of all winter facilities in Mount Royal Park this Friday and Saturday due to “weather conditions”. The outdoor skating rink, cross-country ski trails and slides in this huge green space will therefore not be accessible on New Year’s Eve, and possibly the following days. “We hope for fresh snow and in the meantime, visit our website to find out the conditions before you travel,” adds the organization in a Facebook post.
Many cross-country ski trails are closed throughout Montreal, although some remain open. This is particularly the case for the trails located on the site of the Botanical Garden and in Maisonneuve Park, in Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, or even in Angrignon Park, in the Southwest, where you can practice cross-country skiing. .
Ice fishing delayed
In Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, in the Mauricie region, fishing for “small fish in the channels”, the nickname given to the Atlantic tomcod, has become a holiday tradition for thousands of Quebecers. However, this year, the official opening, which was to take place on December 26, was delayed by weather conditions. Thus, currently, only 40 chalets out of a total of 450 have been installed and “we stopped the installation while waiting for the end of the thaw”, indicates to the Homework the spokesperson for the Sainte-Anne River Outfitters Association, Steve Massicotte.
The “final” opening of the site will therefore be considerably delayed this year, adds Mr. Massicotte, who predicts that “people will be able to reserve their place on January 7”, while this ice fishing festival is due to end on February 19.
“It’s obvious that when you lose the holiday season, it’s still important as an economic loss,” notes Mr. Massicotte, who however consoles himself by recalling that two years ago, fishing for small fish channels had only started on January 20. “This year, if we are there on January 7, it is already a little better. »
For ski resorts, this thaw represents a lesser evil since a significant part of their traffic during the holiday season takes place between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The clientele has also been particularly important after the winter storm which has covered a good part of Quebec with a thick white coat in recent days, notes the president and general manager of the Association des stations de ski du Québec, Yves Juneau. .
“We have just experienced exceptional traffic days in Quebec in the last few days due to the storm,” he said in an interview on Friday. As for the rise in temperatures and the rain expected in the coming days, “we would have done well without it”, he agrees. But “that’s not what will stop us,” adds Mr. Juneau, who recalls that ski resorts have increasingly efficient “machinery” that allows them to ensure the quality of their slopes despite these mild spells. The current rise in mercury could, however, lead to additional expenses in terms of snow production for several ski resorts, he mentions.
“Obviously the temperature poses challenges in terms of snowmaking,” acknowledges the director of communications for the Massif de Charlevoix, Isabelle Vallée, who indicates that the ski resort is “double its efforts” to ensure that its facilities remain practicable in the coming days. The opening of the slopes could be done gradually to ensure “customer safety”, while opening “a maximum of slopes”, she indicates. “One thing is certain, currently 100% of our territory is not open,” adds Ms. Vallée.
Christian Dufour, marketing director for Les Sommets, which includes Monts Saint-Sauveur, Gabriel, Olympia and Morin-Heights, is “really confident that we will be able to offer good conditions next Monday” to skiers. “With the machinery we have, the accumulation of snow we had is very positive,” he underlines. Mr. Dufour also expects that the clientele will be there in the coming days, residents wishing to take advantage of the time “to play outside”, with the exception of rainy days. “If the temperatures are nice next week, we should have good traffic. »