Posted May 24, 2023 at 3:27 p.m.
Spring gives us its final blow before the arrival of meteorological summer. On the menu: some snow. Forecast.
Shall we take out the shovels?
While lawn mowers have been in action in Quebec for several weeks, Abitibi residents were wondering if they should get their shovel out Wednesday morning. The green on the lawn had given way to white thanks to a light layer of fresh snow. Témiscamingue also got its share of snowflakes, as did North-du-Québec, where there was even accumulation.
And it’s not over yet…
The system responsible for these snowflakes continues to move southeast. It carries with it a lot of cold air that could bring snow in certain areas. Laurentides Game Reserve regulars won’t be surprised to learn that this is one of the places these late snowfalls are targeting. During the night from Wednesday to Thursday there could be accumulations in the higher parts of the reserve. Elsewhere it will snow lightly.
Especially at altitude
It could snow on the Bas-Saint-Laurent on Thursday. The mercury will be near freezing. Therefore, there will be a clear difference between the lowlands and the mountain sectors. The higher you climb, the greater the likelihood of snowflakes or even significant accumulations of snow appearing.
Everyone in turn
For Gaspésie, the situation will be similar during the night from Thursday to Friday. The risk of snowfall or accumulations of snow will particularly affect the Parc de la Gaspésie.
Last bursts of spring
Spring is likely to clear its last snow reserves before meteorological summer sets in next week. On Wednesday the situation in Abitibi was not exceptional, but the snow came a little late. Usually Val-d’Or sees its last mark on May 19th. However, Wednesday’s snow was far from the record. In 1968, a few days before Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, June 20, snow fell on the city.
Late but far from the records
If people in Saguenay and Rimouski see snowflakes this week, it would be more than two weeks later than average. The last snowflakes fall on average on May 11th in Saguenay and on May 4th in Rimouski. It may be close to the record at Rimouski, where it snowed on June 1, 1945. But in Saguenay we would still be a long way from a mark. On June 17, 1986, the Saguenéens could see snow.