Yes, it will be colder in the coming days, but Quebec will be spared from the polar cold wave that is freezing over western Canada and parts of the United States. Towards the end of the week, the mercury in the south of the province could drop to -20 degrees Celsius at night.
Posted at 5:31 p.m.
This is the first real cold episode in Quebec since the start of winter, notes Environment Canada meteorologist Simon Legault. “We've had a cold day here and there, but now we're in for a cold snap. We will have nights between -15 and -20 degrees Celsius this week. Very cold even early in the morning. »
A cold wave is normal at this time of year, the meteorologist adds.
From mid-January to mid-February it is the heart of winter, so to speak. This period is favorable for very cold weather.
Simon Legault, meteorologist for Environment Canada
First snow
The polar cold snap bearing down on the middle of the continent is having another short-term impact for Quebec and the Maritimes: snow. A few centimeters of snow could accumulate in the south of the province in the coming days, varying depending on the region, Mr. Legault said.
Less than five centimeters of snow is expected in Montreal. Around ten centimeters of snow could fall in Lac-Mégantic, in Estrie. “Those who got a lot of snow in two episodes last week are not the ones who will get the most,” specifies the meteorologist.
A winter storm is expected to hit the Maritimes region as well as Gaspésie, the Magdalen Islands and the north coast on Wednesday. 15 to 25 centimeters of snow is forecast in Gaspésie from Tuesday evening into Wednesday, Environment Canada warns. There will be strong winds in the affected regions.
“The cold in western Canada and America is not really affecting us, but it is contributing to the snow to give energy to this low pressure system that will impact the maritime regions,” explains Simon Legault.
Cold for the end of the week
The mercury should then fall in southern Quebec for part of the weekend starting Thursday. “It is only temporary and really not as intense as what the West is experiencing,” specifies Simon Legault.
At night temperatures could drop to -15 to -20 degrees Celsius, he says. Outside major centers and in more mountainous areas, wind chills could reach -25 degrees and even lower, he adds. The meteorologist does not expect a polar cold warning for the south of the province. “It’s three or four days colder, but not extreme. »
However, this weather forecast will be in contrast to the temperatures of the last few weeks. “We had an extremely mild month of December and recently the big snowfalls have protected us from the cold,” reiterates Mr. Legault.
Icy bite in the west of the country
The situation is completely different west of the Great Lakes. Parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories are under a federal extreme cold warning.
There will be wind chills of -40 and even -50. “It is an air collapse that usually occurs at the pole and descends towards the center of the continent,” explains Simon Legault. “In the West, the cold weather broke records, there were extreme episodes of power problems. The USA is also getting a taste there, and there are still a few days left. »