Published on July 23, 2023 at 3:36 p.m.
Updated July 23, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
With almost 300 millimeters of rain since the beginning of the month, Sherbrooke could soon break an all-time record. Forecast.
Most parts of Quebec have experienced excessive rain since the beginning of the month. The southern, central, and eastern regions are well above seasonal norms. Only the west of the province seems to have been spared.
record rain
The extreme south of the province is particularly affected by this anomaly. In Estrie, Frelighsburg and Sherbrooke they are already at almost 300% of their usual value in July. With 289 millimeters of rain, the capital Estrie far surpassed its monthly record from 1974 and could soon set a new all-time record. The last mark is from August 2006 and is 305 millimeters.
With a few days left in July, it could easily reach the fifteen millimeters separating it from the old threshold. The next few days should remedy this situation, since new episodes of rain are to be expected.
A corridor of precipitation
A combination of several factors favors this excess precipitation. The high humidity in the atmosphere has a lot to do with it. It not only amplifies the perceived heat, but also increases the amount of precipitation that arrives during thunderstorms.
Another important factor is the atmospheric context that has been hovering over Quebec since the beginning of the month. An extensive, well-planted trough in the western part of the province enabled the creation of a real rainfall corridor. Result? Some regions have been heavily disrupted.
Danger of flooding and flash floods
The consequences of all these rains are numerous. Already saturated soil cannot absorb excess water, nor can streams that reach high water levels. These phenomena are particularly pronounced during violent storms, in which large amounts of rain fall in a very short time. Residents of Joliette may remember July 21, when 100 millimeters of rain fell in a matter of hours, flooding several streets.