After a mild and very snowy month of January, Quebecers should expect a cold month of February with little precipitation.
With impressive amounts of snow received in December and January, many will say they are happy to have a lull in February, but all this will come at a price, namely cold temperatures.
According to an Environment Canada document on which the QMI Agency was able to get their hands, temperatures will be much lower over the next month. “During the winter, the coldest temperatures are generally observed during the month of January. This year will be an exception: it is in February that the first real outbreaks of Arctic air will make their entry into the southern half of Quebec,” it reads.
Despite these surges of cold air, Quebecers will still be entitled to milder and seasonal temperatures at times.
“On the precipitation side, the freezing air forecast for early February will keep the precipitation at bay. During the second week, a certain softening of the temperatures might allow more robust systems to make their entry”, it was also indicated in the document.
During the month of January, Quebec received significant amounts of snow. Here is a summary from Environment Canada:
- Montreal: 94.8 cm (monthly normal of 49.5 cm)
- Trois-Rivières*: 105.8 cm (monthly normal of 58.5 cm)
- Quebec*: 75.2 cm (monthly normal of 71.9 cm)
- Mont-Joli: 93.8 cm (monthly normal of 76.2 cm)
- Gaspé: 73.0 cm (monthly normal of 80.2 cm)
- Kuujjuaq: 27.2 cm (monthly normal of 32.6 cm)
*Note that the data for Trois-Rivières and Quebec are estimates only.