Published February 24, 2024 at 9:57 p.m.
Updated February 24, 2024 at 10:00 p.m.
This is the second time the mercury temperature has not fallen below -20°C during the winter in Montreal. But this is a first for this region. Details.
Historical
Until this winter, the Gatineau-Ottawa region experienced temperatures at or below -20°C at least once a year. This will soon be a thing of the past: the cold season of 2023-2024 will likely be history, as the mercury has still not fallen below this symbolic value.
In fact, the coldest temperature observed in Gatineau in recent months was -18.7°C on January 21st.
Furthermore, the forecasts are not encouraging: a sharp increase in mild weather will occur in the province by the middle of next week.
Expected temperatures in southern Quebec could exceed 10°C. So Gatineau should officially usher in its first meteorological winter without -20°C on March 1st. Note that meteorological winter lasts from December to February.
One second for Montreal
The metropolitan region suffered the same fate as the Outaouais: the mercury did not reach the -20°C mark this winter. However, this is not the first time such a situation has occurred for Montreal.
During the 2001-2002 winter season, the lowest observed temperature was 18.8°C. This winter, the mercury fell to its lowest point of -17.4°C on January 20th.