A “huge heat bubble” will settle over Quebec this week, while the very present humidity will cause the humidex index to exceed 40 in the afternoon from Tuesday to Thursday and the nights will offer little respite.
“It’s a mass of warm air, a tropical mass, which comes from the American Midwest and which invades all the sectors of the eastern part of the continent,” explains Environment Canada meteorologist Jean-Philippe Bégin.
A large part of Quebec will be affected by this heat wave, as will eastern Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States. Some areas will see temperatures rise as early as Monday, while others will be more affected as of Tuesday.
Heat warnings already came into effect Monday morning for the regions of Montreal, Capitale-Nationale, Outaouais, Abitibi, Laurentides, Lanaudière, Montérégie, Estrie and Center-du- Quebec.
According to Jean-Philippe Bégin, even if a heatwave is nothing unusual at this time of year, it is the humidity that will need to be monitored this week.
“When it’s more humid, the nights are warmer. Then when the nights are hot, there’s no respite,” he mentions.
“When it’s very humid, the temperature doesn’t drop much at night, and then it stays very sticky, heavy, during the day. So that’s where the health effects are cumulative. After two or three days, it starts to get more and more difficult, especially for the most vulnerable populations.”
Mr. Bégin also points out that a heat wave also hit Quebec at the same period in 2020. This was longer, but less marked by high humidity.
This time, the heat will peak mid-week. The return of slightly cooler weather will occur from Friday, which means that the heat could be felt for two days in some places, but persist for more than four and a half days elsewhere.
“It should be taken seriously,” underlines Mr. Bégin.
During periods of extreme heat, Environment Canada and its public health partners recommend drinking six to eight glasses of water per day, without waiting until you are thirsty, and avoiding alcoholic beverages or caffeine.
“It’s super important, because the health effects are cumulative. Giving your body a chance to regain the upper hand, even two hours a day, makes a big difference, according to health studies,” says Mr. Bégin.
It may also be beneficial to reduce your physical activities outside, or to move them to the beginning or end of the day, at times when the temperature is lower outside.
Environment Canada also reminds us of the importance of never leaving a child or baby alone in a car or poorly ventilated room, of checking on people who live alone and of not neglecting the impact of heat on pets. company.