Yes, it will be colder in the coming days, but Quebec will be spared from the polar cold wave which is freezing western Canada and part of the United States. The mercury could drop to -20 degrees Celsius at night in the south of the province towards the end of the week.
This is the first real episode of cold in Quebec since the start of winter, notes Simon Legault, meteorologist for Environment Canada. “We had a cold day here and there, but now we’re going to have a cold spell. We will have nights between -15 and -20 degrees Celsius this week. Very cold early mornings too. »
A cold spell is normal at this time of year, adds the meteorologist.
From mid-January to mid-February, it’s pretty much the heart of winter. This period is favorable for having a period of very cold weather.
Simon Legault, meteorologist for Environment Canada
First, snow
The polar cold wave descending on the center of the continent has another short-term effect for Quebec and the Maritimes: snow. In the coming days, a few centimeters of snow could accumulate in the south of the province, varying depending on the region, according to Mr. Legault.
In Montreal, less than five centimeters of snow are expected. In Lac-Mégantic, in Estrie, around ten centimeters of snow could fall. “Those who received a lot of snow in two episodes last week, they are not the ones who will receive the most,” specifies the meteorologist.
On Wednesday, a winter storm is expected to affect the Maritimes region, as well as Gaspésie, the Magdalen Islands and the North Shore. 15 to 25 centimeters of snow are forecast from Tuesday evening to Wednesday in Gaspésie, warns Environment Canada. Strong winds will be present for the affected regions.
“The cold of Western Canada and America doesn’t really affect us, but it helps to make this snow, to give energy to this depression which will affect the Maritimes,” explains Simon Legault.
Cold for the end of the week
The mercury should then drop in southern Quebec starting Thursday for part of the weekend. “It’s momentary and it’s really not as intense as what the West is experiencing,” specifies Simon Legault.
At night, temperatures could drop to -15 or -20 degrees Celsius, he says. Outside major centers and in more mountainous areas, wind chills could reach -25 and even lower, he adds. The meteorologist does not expect a polar cold warning for the south of the province. “It’s three or four days colder, but not extreme. »
However, this weather forecast will contrast with the temperatures of recent weeks. “We had an extremely mild month of December, and recently, the big snowfalls protected us from the cold,” reiterates Mr. Legault.
Icy bite in the west of the country
The situation is very different west of the Great Lakes. Parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories are under an extreme cold warning from the federal agency.
Wind chills reaching -40 and even -50 are in effect. “It’s an incursion of air which is normally found at the pole which descends to the center of the continent,” explains Simon Legault. “In the West, the cold weather broke records, there were extreme episodes with electricity problems. There, the United States is also getting a taste of it, and there are still a few days left. »