Quebecers took advantage of summer temperatures on Tuesday, where several heat records were broken, which will continue throughout the province of Bellevue on Wednesday.
• Read more: The heat will continue for the next few days
The mercury soared to 24.5°C in Montreal on Tuesday, breaking the hottest October 25 record since 1963.
“We are close to an exceptional event,” observes Jean-Philippe Pégin, a meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada. October 23, 1979, was the second warmest day on record for the end of October, with 25 degrees Celsius.
Sherbrooke recorded a daily high of 24.1°C on Tuesday, compared with 23.9°C on the same day in 1963.
On the south shore of Montreal, the thermometer showed 25°C at St-Anicet, also setting a daily record.
MétéoMédia estimates that several cities in Quebec have a “good chance” of exceeding the maximum temperature for October 26.
“In Montreal, Mr. Begin believes we will surpass the record of 21.5°C in 2012.
Ditto for Saguenay, where 22°C is forecast. 20 degrees Celsius was recorded on the same date in 1963.
If Tuesday is a hot day for this time of year, this trend has already been seen for several days.
“On Sunday and Monday, several heat records were already broken in Quebec, Abitibi, Saguenay and eastern parts of the province,” said Kevin Cloutier, meteorologist at Meteomedia.
Hot autumn
For the third year in a row, Montreal is experiencing a long mild spell of fall.
If the thermometer reaches 20°C on Wednesday, the metropolis will be entitled to at least five consecutive days of hot weather, as in 2020 and 2021.
“It is still too early to talk about an event causing global warming,” says Mr. Begin. We cannot rely on one or two years to identify a trend. »
Between happiness and anxiety
On Lachine Canal in Montreal, residents experienced this unusual stretch of summer heat on Tuesday.
“Of course we’re torn between joy and worry in the face of global warming,” says Montreal resident Karine Dubison. Normally, I wear a toque and gloves at this point! »
It’s the same story for Luke Belair, a borough resident since 1992.
“I don’t remember October being this hot for so long,” the Griffintown resident underscored. Of course, it’s not guaranteed, but we can’t help but enjoy it! »
