Julie PerreaultEditor
Published October 5, 2023 at 10:55 am.
A strong return of rain is beginning in the province with the first shower of rain this Thursday.
After several days of exceptional heat, a cold front will change the situation. Accompanied by a band of precipitation, the system is expected to begin to feel its impact in the west of the province on Thursday morning.
Lightning is to be expected
There will also be a weather element that has become more subtle lately: lightning. In fact, from this afternoon it will be possible to observe lightning in the northwest of the province. In the evening the risk will be greater for the Pontiac sectors as well as the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve.
Although their numbers will not be unusually high, their presence itself poses a risk. According to the Society for the Protection of Forests from Fire (SOPFEU), there is currently still a very high risk of forest fires in certain sectors of this region, particularly in Témiscamingue, Val-d’Or and Senneterre.
But they are not the only ones. Montérégie, the Laurentians and much of the southwest of the province are also under strict surveillance. In addition, the Outaouais-Labelle sector, a little further south, remains extremely vulnerable, according to the organization.
Remember, the wildfire season in Quebec and Canada was historic in terms of the number of square kilometers burned. In the province, more than 52,000 km² went up in smoke, more than the area of Denmark! In addition, 19 fires were still active in the province this Thursday morning. Last week, smoke affected air quality and the appearance of the sky in some locations in Quebec. It has since moved to Florida.
Small quantities before the weekend
One would think that the precipitation that accompanies the system will significantly reduce the likelihood of wildfires. However, the amount of rain forecast for today will not be huge. At the end of the day, certain sectors in Abitibi-Témiscamingue could be entitled to a maximum of 30 mm. However, this will not be the norm. The majority will probably get between 5 and 15mm at most.