The stifling heat that rages on a good part of the country, including Quebec, is expected to fade in the coming days for many Canadians, after Monday’s scorching temperatures broke dozens of daily heat records.
About 51 daily heat records were broken across the country on Monday, many regions recording temperatures around 30 ° C, said Christy Climenhaga, scientist at Environment Canada.
Monday temperatures broke daily heat records in nine province regions, according to Environment Canada, including six on the island of Vancouver.
This includes the Victoria region, where temperatures have reached 33.8 ° C, almost two degrees more than the 31.9 ° C record set in 1990.
New heat records have been recorded to Pemberton, north of Whistler. The meteorological agency reported temperatures of 37.4 ° C, narrowly broke the 1977 daily temperature record.
In Montreal, the warmth on Monday broke the record for an August 11, 80 years old. Saguenay, which posted 34.7 ° C, surpassed the record of 31.7 ° C measured in 1905.
“When many records [de température] are beaten, this indicates that it is rather an episode of notable heat, “said Climenhaga during an interview on Tuesday.
Tuesday, for southern Quebec, the maximum temperatures oscillated between 30 and almost 36 degrees Celsius, on Temperatures in the afternoon 35.9 ° C, while Montreal Thermometers already climbed at 34.3 ° C in the afternoon. Added to this is a high humidity rate, which generates humidx values of almost 40.
The long-awaited relief will first arrive in the southern British Columbia, where a heat wave of several days is expected to end Tuesday or Wednesday, while temperatures will return to the seasonal average of 25 ° C in many sectors.
Temperatures should be maintained until Wednesday in southern Ontario, extending north beyond Lake Huron and Georgian bay and east to the south of Quebec.
Environment and Climate Change Canada warns that conditions in southern Quebec should improve “in the course of Wednesday day”, adding that “more seasonal maximum temperatures and a drop in humidity are expected on Thursday”. However, thunderstorms may also be ranged on Wednesday.
Ontario broke or equalized 10 new daily heat records on Monday in regions such as Algonquin, Goderich, Parry Sound and Bancroft park, said Climenhaga.
In the Maritimes, high temperatures should persist until Wednesday, while certain regions of Newfoundland will experience similar conditions Thursday or Friday.
Dozens of daily heat records were broken in the Atlantic provinces on Monday, according to the National Meteorological Agency, surpassing temperature records already established in the late 1800s.
Miramichi, New Brunswick, broke a temperature record over 150 years old, reaching 37.6 ° C on Monday, just under one degree less than the record set in 1876. Tuesday, the city even displayed 38.3 ° C. Fredericton has also barely exceeded a daily record of 35 ° C dating from 1893.
The heat of Monday in certain regions of Newfoundland and Labrador has even set new monthly extreme temperature records for the month of August, according to Environment Canada.
The saw, in Newfoundland, recorded on Monday a new monthly record of 31.5 ° C, thus breaking the previous heat record of August 31 ° C established on August 7, 1990. Likewise, the region of Mary’s Harbor, in Labrador, broke a monthly record dating from August 6, 1990 by almost two degrees.
Drought is rampant
In this context of heat, an update of agriculture Canada indicates that Nova Scotia, the east of Newfoundland, the South-East of New Brunswick and certain parts of Prince Edward Island entered moderate to serious drought conditions in the last month, the precipitation having dropped to 60 % of the normal levels in Halifax.
In eastern Ontario, water conservation efforts are underway, precipitation decreased by 40 % and a burning ban being in force in Ottawa.
Agriculture Canada reported that 71 % of the country was classified as abnormally dry or in a moderate drought situation at the end of July.
The data show that this year’s forest fire season is already the second worst ever recorded.
Environment Canada scientist said British Columbia and meadows expect “decent rains” to mark the end of the drought period, while the Maritimes should experience “showers here and there” towards the end of the week.
However, she said that a single downpour would not mark the end of the seasons of forest fires and drought, stressing that a constant rain over long periods is important to reduce risks.
“When you observe prolonged drought and many fires rage, a single dose of rain is not necessarily the miracle solution,” she insisted. If you have had a lot of rain, but the dry and warm weather comes back, you could end up at the starting point. »»
With Vanessa Tiberio in Toronto, Michael Tutton in Halifax and Sarah Ritchie in Ottawa