MétéoMédia editorial team
Published December 16, 2023 at 11:56 p.m.
Updated December 17, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
A large system will hit Quebec hard on Monday and the expected rainfall amounts are notable. Records could be broken. Forecasts.
This is a real spring storm in the middle of winter. An extraordinary situation that will take the province by storm on Sunday evening.
Another Monday
It has almost become a tradition: every Monday a large system invades Quebec. However, after a good snowfall followed by a mix of rain and snow, the start of the week will be dominated by rain in most regions of Belle Province. Monday will be the most affected. It will rain heavily in places, the following gusts could cause damage.
Good and bad news
The good news: the weather will be very mild. So much so that winter coats, even hats and gloves can be furloughed, at least for Monday. The bad news: Umbrellas and raincoats will be in high demand. Almost everywhere in Quebec the thermometers show a value above 0° on Monday. In Montreal the mercury could reach 10°, in Sherbrooke it could reach 13°. Several cities could set a new record for mildness on December 18th.
Bye bye snow
All this rain, combined with the mild weather melting the remaining snowpack in some areas, could cause some rivers to reach very unseasonable levels. Roads along rivers should be monitored. There is a risk of aquaplaning due to the accumulation of water on the road during Monday. Visibility will not be perfect, so caution is advised when traveling.
Watch out for glitches
The east of the province will be less affected by the rain, but gusts will become excessive, spoiling outdoor activities. We are talking about gusts of up to 70 km/h in Estrie, over 80 km/h in Beauce and over 100 km/h in Gaspésie and Bas-Sant-Laurent. Gusts can reach up to 110 km/h around Saint-Anne-des-Monts in Gaspésie. Power outages are therefore quite possible, especially in eastern Quebec between Monday and Tuesday morning.
Lots and lots of rain
The rain will be heavy at times and will accumulate quickly. In total, up to 100mm of rain will fall in the wettest areas by Tuesday morning. Charlevoix and the Parc des Laurentides will be the focus of the gatherings. The north coast is not spared either. Up to 75 mm is possible east of Sept-Îles. Between 30 and 60 mm is expected in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.