Published December 9, 2023 at 11:32 p.m.
Updated December 10, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
On the night of March 25, 2021, a gigantic “boom” woke up thousands of Montrealers. Could a thunderclap like this happen again? What if it happened on Sunday? Details.
Rare, but not impossible
The conditions will be met when the next system crosses the province: it will be strong and therefore favor the formation of lightning. An event like this doesn't happen every year at this time of year.
In fact, like other winter months, it is rare to see lightning in December.
It's all a matter of instability and the system heading into the province is full of moisture. Therefore, there is a risk of thunderstorms that could occur during the passage of the cold front over the province, similar to what happened in summer. A clap of thunder could therefore wake you up as you cross the front on the night of Saturday to Sunday.
The regions most likely to experience thunderstorms are Montreal, Lanaudière, the Laurentians and Outaouais. If you move away from the edge of the yellow zone, the risks are almost nil.
In the almanac
In July, the most active month of the year, there are an average of seven days of thunderstorms. You can count these episodes on one hand for an entire winter.
However, one particularly violent storm is firmly anchored in the memory of Montrealers. At around 3:30 a.m. on the morning of March 25, 2021, a deafening noise woke up more than one person. With incredible force, this thunderclap was on everyone's lips early in the morning.