Montreal weather update: Special weather statement, burn ban in effect (2024)

The second day of a late-spring heat wave came with a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada around noon Tuesday.

The statement warns that a warm airmass over southern Quebec will persist till Thursday morning, with temperatures up to 32degrees Celsius and a humidex reaching up to 38 C on Wednesday.

“The heat will also persist overnight Wednesday night, and temperatures hovering near 20 degrees Celsius will offer little relief,” the meteorological agency said in the statement.

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Outdoor activities should be limited to the coolest parts of the day and vulnerable people, such as older adults, young children and people with breathing difficulties, should stay inside and keep hydrated.

Forest protection agency SOPFEU has issued partial and total fire bans in several regions of Quebec. All open fires are forbidden near forests. Because of the hot and dry weather, SOPFEU estimates that the fire danger reached the “extreme” level on Tuesday in the regions covered by the ban.

The regions affected are:

Northern Quebec: Jamésie, Eeyou Istchee.

Côte-Nord: Haute-Côte-Nord, Manicouagan, Sept-Rivières, Caniapiscau, Minganie (excluding Anticosti Island).

Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean: Le Domaine-du-Roy, Maria-Chapdelaine, Lac-St-Jean-Est, Saguenay, Le Fjord-du-Saguenay.

Abitibi-Témiscaminque: Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi-Ouest, Abitibi, La Vallée-de-l’Or.

Outaouais: La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau (portion located north of latitude 47°30′).

Laurentians: Antoine-Labelle (portion located north of latitude 47°30′).

Mauricie: La Tuque (portion located north of latitude 47°30′).

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Lanaudière: Matawinie (portion located north of latitude 47°30′).

Capitale-Nationale: Charlevoix-Est.

Bas-St-Laurent: La Matapédia, La Matanie, La Mitis, Rimouski-Neigette, Les Basques, Rivière-du-Loup, Témiscouata, Kamouraska.

Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine: Avignon.

Chaudière-Appalaches: L’Islet, Montmagny.

Complete details for each region are available at sopfeu.qc.ca.

“Rising temperatures, the absence of precipitation and low relative humidity levels will lead to increased fire intensity and spread indices for the coming days,” SOPFEU said in a statement.

Since the start of the protection season, SOPFEU has recorded 134 fires affecting 145.1 hectares of forest. Of this number, 81 per cent is attributable to human activity.

Currently, two fires are active.

Expect a high of 31 C Tuesday, with a humidex of 33 C and a UV index of 7, or high. At night, a low of 19 C.

Meanwhile in the U.S.

Parts of California, Nevada and Arizona are expected to bake as the first heat wave of the season arrives.

By Wednesday, most of an area stretching from southeast California to central Arizona will see “easily their hottest” weather since last September, and record daily highs will be in jeopardy from Las Vegas to Phoenix, the National Weather Service said late Monday.

Fire crews will be on high alert especially in Arizona, where fire restrictions went into effect before Memorial Day in some areas and will be ordered by Thursday across most of the western and south-central parts of the state, authorities said.

“It does seem like Mother Nature is turning up the heat on us a little sooner than usual,” Tiffany Davila, spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, said Monday evening.

“We can’t back down from a fire just because it’s pushing 113 degrees outside. But we do keep a close eye on everybody in the field. Make sure they are keeping hydrated and taking more breaks than they normally would,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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