Is February harder than January? It is possible

Action in January

Quebec has seen action since early January. After being marked by the mildness of December, winter will begin in 2024. Really, could February be any worse in terms of blizzards? On average, the expected levels are the same for two months, but that seems to be the case.

“Between January and February, there is little difference in the amount of snow that falls each month in these two months,” explains meteorologist Régène Ouimet. These totals should take into account the number of days in every 2 months. On a daily basis, Montreal saw 1.64 cm per day in January, up from 1.72 in February. »

Snowier February

Atmospheric conditions are favorable for heavy snowfall in February. In fact, as the pressure exerted by the descent of Arctic air over Quebec decreases after January, the track of the systems will move northward and upward. Thus, the province is generally found on a very active corridor.

“There is more snow in February than in January,” explains Réjean Ouimet. In Montreal, since 1942, it has happened 36 times. And while January has more snow than usual, February has more snow. 15 times in 36 cases. »

January marks the path

Over 25 years, Régène Ouimet has recorded 118 snowstorms in Quebec in January. In February, the total rises to 121. In addition, let's remember that this month is the shortest of the year. To return to this famous initial question, the answer is yes: February is worse than January in this respect. In Montreal, it's one out of two years. For Quebec, this number increases to 59 percent.

“We'll give back some of the leadership that belongs to it in January,” declares Régène Ouimet. A January notable for heavy snowfall has occurred 45 times in the past 82 years. February followed suit, and had half as much snow as normal. »

In collaboration with Rejean Ouimet and Nicolas Lessard, meteorologists.

See also: Mars: A large amount of water under the surface?