The mercury is expected to rise over the next few days, but the worst of winter is not yet behind us. Starting next week, a new cold front is expected to move into Quebec, causing temperatures to plunge to -30 degrees in the north of the province.
After a first episode of cold since the start of winter, the province should record a period of mild weather in the coming days.
At the origin of this: a warm air system coming from Texas, explains Frédéric Dubuis, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
In southern Quebec, the mercury should gradually rise until it approaches the 1 degree mark towards the end of the week.
The respite will nevertheless be short-lived. Starting next week, a cold system is expected to once again plunge the mercury below zero degrees. In northern Quebec, it could even drop to -30 degrees.
“We expect cold air warnings in the regions around James Bay up to the North Shore,” specifies Frédéric Dubuis.
Southern Quebec should be relatively spared: the mercury should not drop below -10 degrees.
Spared by the polar cold snap that is icing western Canada and part of the United States, the province has so far experienced a month of January within seasonal norms.
“These days, the seasonal average is -6 degrees. We’re a few degrees below average, but that’s not unusual. It can be explained by a system,” explains Mr. Dubuis.
In terms of precipitation, southern Quebec should receive a few flakes in the coming days, but nothing more. However, a mix of snow and freezing rain is expected on Friday.