This week in Quebec, we've experienced some scorching temperatures with thermometers reaching up to 30°C in certain areas, despite it being just mid-May.
The warm weather we're experiencing in spring might indicate what's to come—and statistics from previous years with comparable conditions paint an intriguing scenario for Quebec’s upcoming summer.
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Could a heatwave in May indicate a scorching summer ahead?
Have you observed that heatwaves during May have become both more frequent and appear earlier than normal in recent times?
If that's the case, you're not asleep! The warmth of summertime gently takes hold before summer officially begins. This is exactly what happened this week with temperatures reaching or nearing 30°C in certain areas.
Each year, Quebec typically goes through about four heat waves. A heat wave is considered to be a period of three continuous days where the temperature reaches or exceeds 30°C.
Starting from 2010, each time a heat wave hit in May, six of those summers experienced extremely high temperatures, featuring at least an average or higher frequency of heat waves. The year 2022 stood out as the sole deviation from this pattern. Notably, both 2016 and 2018 saw nearly double the usual count of heat waves compared to what’s typical annually.
Based on past observations, we can infer that a heatwave in May usually suggests that the coming summer will likely be quite warm.
Excited to learn about the weather conditions anticipated this summer? Stay tuned! the launch of our summer forecast on Wednesday, May 28 , for all the newest updates across Quebec and the rest of Canada.
The main factor for a scorching summer is the heat dome.
A significant factor in determining a sweltering summer is the occurrence of a heat dome. This phenomenon greatly increases the likelihood of elevated temperatures when it develops prior to the official start of the season.
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Heat domes develop when large areas experience arid conditions. The parched earth releases minimal moisture into the air. This dry pattern intensifies due to a strong area of high pressure marked by abundant sunlight, which exacerbates soil dehydration even more. This cyclical process warms the surrounding environment and plays a role in scorching summer temperatures.
On the positive side, the humidity levels have dropped.
The positive aspect for those who dislike humid conditions is that this heat remains fairly dry.
In May, the humidity levels drop across Quebec compared to those in summer. The vegetation is just beginning to develop And since the bodies of water remain quite chilly, they release less moisture into the air.
Early spells of warm weather, similar to what we've experienced this week, tend not to be as humid, resulting in a 30°C peak temperature during May. applies lesser strain to the body Than the same temperature would during mid-July.
During this season, moisture typically moves into Quebec via southeasterly orsouthwesterly breezes. By July, though, the humidity is firmly established across the region and remains so throughout the month. This persistent humidity will shape whether we experience a merely uncomfortable or an extremely oppressive summertime.
This article was translated and adapted from an article published by MétéoMédia The Weather Network’s counterpart based in Quebec.
The header image was created using elements sourced from Canva.
