Heatwave in Montreal: heat islands that could reach 50°C in some places

As the greater Montreal area shattered temperature records on Thursday, The newspaper was looking for the hottest spot on the island. Result: temperatures reaching 50° were recorded in Pointe-aux-Trembles and Anjou.

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The newspaper got a thermometer equipped with a transmitter to calculate the places where the temperatures were the highest on the island of Montreal. According to the Wundermap site, an interactive map powered by the population, the east of the island, which has many heat islands, recorded temperatures felt to reach more than 40°C.

Just before 1 p.m., the transmitter recorded a temperature of 50°C in an industrialized and very sunny sector of Pointe-aux-Trembles. In the parking lot of the Galeries d’Anjou, the mercury reached 43°C around noon.

After calculating the temperatures of more industrialized areas, The newspaper went to a “cool zone”, at Parc Hébert, in Saint-Léonard, located less than 5 km from Anjou. A much lower temperature, established at 38.2°C, was recorded in the small park.

Heat islands

Few people ventured outside in the Anjou sector today. Area resident Sebastian Zamora was hurrying to walk his dog, Toty.

“It’s hot, it’s my first summer here [à Anjou], and compared to Repentigny, it’s really more overwhelming. Especially since before I had a yard, ”drops the 37-year-old man.

For the past three days, an early heat wave has been sweeping across Quebec and several cities, including Montreal, are seeing average temperatures around 30°C. Heat is still expected before a return to seasonal normals expected for the weekend. Late Thursday afternoon, Environment Canada confirmed that the hottest day of the week was behind us and that a heat record of 34.8°C had been reached for the Island of Montreal.

Simon Legault, meteorologist with Environment Canada, reports that the areas where the heat is greatest are those where there are “fewer trees, less green space and more concrete”. This explains why the east of the island, with its industrial park, is often warmer.

Edwin Landa, another resident of the sector established in Anjou for 30 years took advantage of his balcony.

“Fortunately, we have an air conditioner, everyone in the block has one. It’s very hot here,” he added.