Published on February 26, 2024 at 9:44 p.m
Updated February 26, 2024 at 10:00 p.m.
An impressive system will arrive in the province on Tuesday, leaving behind significant amounts of rain. In some places there is even talk of a risk of flooding. Details.
Like spring air
The system heading towards Quebec looks like it did in April: it will be accompanied by a strong mild increase that will bring the mercury temperature up to 15 degrees Celsius in southern Quebec. However, this will have an impact. This increase in temperature will significantly melt the snowpack in regions further north. Water from the melted snow not only poses the risk of flooding, but will also bring significant amounts of rain throughout Wednesday.
All of Quebec will be affected by the rainfall. With the exception of James Bay, there will be mostly rain Tuesday through Thursday. The wettest regions will be those north of the St. Lawrence River. Locally, up to 50 mm of rain could fall in the Outaouais, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, the Mauricie and the Laurentides Wildlife Refuge.
Gaspésie is not left out either: such quantities are also expected in the south of the peninsula, particularly near Baie-des-Chaleurs.
Over three days
The disturbance will initially come from the southwest of the province late Tuesday. There is also a risk of thunderstorms for Pontiac and Témiscamingue. The low pressure area will continue its path and storm the south and central areas during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. The rain, which will intensify beginning in the early hours of Wednesday, will continue into the evening in regions along the St. Lawrence River. The disturbance will reach the Lower North Shore overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
The winds will be there too. On Wednesday, gusts could reach 70 km/h in the southern and central sectors. In the east it is a Thursday that will take your breath away: the gusts can reach speeds of over 80 km/h, in Gaspésie even 90 km/h.
It won't be impossible to see some flakes fall with this drop in temperature, but no significant snow accumulation is expected at this point.