An important element may be missing in Quebec in May

In short:

• Two words to describe May: clouds and storms;

• May is neither beautiful nor completely desolate;

• In spite of everything, the amount of rainfall is not high.

A big absentee

Expectations are high in May. This transition month should lead us towards a summer-like temperature regime. Additionally, hope for good weather is reborn with the arrival of the last month of spring. This year, a very different sight awaits us: dominant clouds. Indeed, the game of air masses risks finding a very busy path of disruption.

“The variability of May this year will be higher than normal,” meteorologist Régène Ouimet estimates. It's a great situation to watch the clouds roll in. May is less blocked than in recent years with consistently good weather. Understand that one month is less sunny than usual. »

Thunderstorms in sight

Thunderstorms are difficult to predict. According to the current atmospheric conditions, there is a possibility of a storm. Disturbances from the west and south and increased moisture from the southern United States will be behind this storm trend. Can we relive the famous Dereko of May 2022 this year? Note that this is a line of large-scale violent thunderstorms. These violent episodes are extremely rare, especially in Quebec.

“Overall, the amount of rainfall during the month should be below normal,” notes Régène Ouimet. It may not be unusually high. Floods of more than 100 millimeters seen in 2023 should not occur again this year. On the other hand, days with storms are more frequent than usual. We already noticed this trend in April. Not to mention the unusually high number of tornadoes south of the border. »

A big absentee

A large absence would be the Sun. That doesn't mean we won't see it, but a stretch of good weather this year may be rare. Given the expected turbulent regime, less frequent sunshine will be significant during the month. Year after year, Quebec records ten consecutive days of good weather.

“In May, we can count on warmer weather than in previous months,” notes Régène Ouimet. On average, Montreal has 229 hours of useful sunshine and Gaspe has 212 hours. We have 15 beautiful days, one in two with at least eight hours of sunshine. A very difficult order to achieve this year. »