Strong winds cause power outages in several regions of Quebec on Wednesday, a few hours after a new heat record was broken in Montreal. Users of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) remained stuck on the train for more than an hour.
For a second day in a row, southern Quebec broke a new heat record. The mercury rose above 13 degrees in the Montreal region, a few hours before the passage of an intense cold front which fueled violent winds in the evening.
At the end of the evening, the Réseau express métropolitain announced an interruption of service on its network for an indefinite period. Passengers were reportedly stuck for more than an hour before being evacuated.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The REM has announced an interruption of service of indefinite duration.
Around 10:16 p.m., Hydro-Québec reported 230,684 customers without electricity, including 65,082 customers in Montérégie and 45,945 customers in the Montreal region.
From Estrie to Montérégie, new heat records were set Wednesday across southern Quebec. In Montreal, the highest temperature ever recorded on this date was in 2017, i.e. 8 degrees.
Consult the report on power outages by region
On Tuesday, the mercury reached 15 degrees in the metropolis, breaking another historic record.
This unusual period of mild weather will come to an abrupt end over the next few hours, with the approach of a new cold front. “We can anticipate a drastic drop in temperatures,” underlines Jean-Philippe Bégin, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
The mercury rose above 13 degrees in the Montreal region, a few hours before the passage of an intense cold front.
In Abitibi, the mercury dropped more than 20 degrees in just two hours after the passage of the cold front earlier in the day.
The temperature difference should not be as radical in southern Quebec, but still: temperatures should drop by 10 to 15 degrees in the space of three hours, according to forecasts.
At its coldest, the mercury is expected to plunge to -12 degrees Thursday morning.
“Temperature drops have already been seen, but this one risks being a little more intense. It remains to be seen to what extent it will be exceptional,” notes Jean-Philippe Bégin.
Testifying to an up and down weather forecast, the heat should return from Friday afternoon in a new episode of mild weather which should continue until the beginning of next week.