The community of Kuujjuaq, in northern Nunavik, recorded the hottest temperature in all of Canada on Tuesday, Environment Canada said on Twitter. Extreme heat warnings are also in effect for several regions of the province, and will continue until Thursday.
“Kuujjuaq is currently the hottest place in Canada with a temperature of 34.1°C! “, indicated on Twitter the Quebec section of Environment Canada at the end of the day Tuesday. This is an 18 degree deviation from the 4th of July average. In Salluit, a community located 3:30 a.m. north of Kuujjuaq by plane, it was 2 degrees on Tuesday.
Environment Canada warned Tuesday that an episode of “extreme heat” is expected Wednesday and Thursday in several regions of Quebec, the combined values of temperature and humidity expected to be very high, which could affect air quality. .
“Wednesday will be a very hot and humid day, with Humidex values of 40 expected. The heat will persist on Thursday. In addition, the nights will remain uncomfortable with minimum temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat affects everyone,” the federal agency said in a special weather report early Tuesday.
These conditions are expected in several regions, including Montreal, but also Gatineau, Maniwaki, Lachute, the Laurentians up to Mont-Tremblant, Témiscamingue, Trois-Rivières, Victoriaville and Quebec, among others. The phenomenon will also be present in other regions, but with a little less intensity, in Val-d’Or, Matagami, La Tuque, Saguenay and in the James Bay region.
The main cause of this heat wave is an almost stationary anticyclone over Quebec, which will allow a warm and humid air mass to settle in over the next few days.
By Thursday, the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heatstroke or exhaustion, will therefore be high. Environment Canada advises the public to reduce the risks by organizing their outdoor activities during the cooler hours of the day, ideally in the evening.
“Never leave people or animals in a parked vehicle”, also reminds the organization, which calls on everyone to drink plenty of water, even before feeling thirsty. These usage tips are even more important for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and outdoor workers.
For certain sectors, such as Gatineau in particular, the very hot and humid air could also “cause a deterioration in air quality and cause the air health index to approach the high risk category”, explained Environment Canada. .
Due to the smoke released by the forest fires, smog or poor air quality advisories remain in effect in certain cities in northwestern Quebec. However, conditions should improve by mid-week on Wednesday, the federal agency said.
On Tuesday, violent thunderstorms also hit several regions, including Montreal, Estrie, Lanaudière, the Laurentians, Mauricie and Saguenay. Environment Canada said these storms could “produce very strong gusts, hail up to the size of a nickel and heavy rain.” “Torrential rains can cause flash flooding and water accumulation on the roads. […] Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Do not forget: when the thunder rumbles, go inside quickly, ”recalled the federal agency.
With The Canadian Press