After a thaw that brought several heat records to the province, Quebecers will be treated to a thick fog to welcome the new year.
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Already on Saturday morning, southern and central Quebec were hit by fog that will decrease in intensity during the day before thickening again during the evening.
“For people who will have to hit the road tonight, caution is in order,” said Frédérick Boulay, meteorologist at Environment Canada, adding that the fog should dissipate Sunday morning as the winds change direction.
Southern Quebec will also be hit by rain. Thus, Environment Canada has issued rain warnings for regions from Gatineau to Quebec. On the Montreal side, precipitation will be intermittent. All should head east during the night.
Milder weather is expected then through Tuesday when a system is expected to bring a mix of precipitation and cause accumulations of freezing rain, Boulay said.
Records
Friday was a particularly hot day, breaking many heat records across the province. From Montreal to Quebec via Abitibi, records as old as 1889 (Quebec and Montreal) have been broken.
The thaw continuing during the weekend, other records could be reached, estimates the meteorologist of Environment Canada.
Temperatures of up to 5°C are expected on Saturday and 3°C on Sunday in Montreal and Quebec.
Here are the new heat records for a December 30, according to Environment Canada’s summary:
- Montreal: 8.6°C, old record of 7.8°C in 1889 and 1936
- Quebec: 6.2°C, old record of 5.0°C in 1889
- Gatineau: 9.8°C, old record of 8.3°C in 1936
- Trois-Rivières: 5.5°C, old record of 5.0°C in 1927
- Sherbrooke: 10.2°C, old record of 8.9°C in 1936
- Drummondville: 9.3°C, old record of 5.0°C in 1965
- Val-d’Or: 7.0°C, old record of 2.2°C in 1965
- Maniwaki: 7.9°C, old record of 6.7°C in 1936
- Chibougamau: 5.6°C, old record of 2.2°C in 1936
- Matagami: 6.4°C, old record of 1.7°C in 1965
- Roberval: 7.2°C, old record of 3.0°C in 1990
- La Tuque: 5.7°C, old record of 3.3°C in 1913
- Parent: 6.5°C, old record 0.7°C in 2003
- Rivière-du-Loup: 7.7°C, old record of 2.2°C in 1973
- Rimouski / Mont-Joli: 7.3°C, old record of 4.6°C in 1990
- Baie-James: 0.0°C, previous record of -2.2°C in 2010
- Fermont: 1.0°C, old record of -6°C in 1990