‘Coldest temperatures in all of North America:’ Bitter cold continues across Quebec
Posted January 21, 2025 10:36 am.
Last Updated January 21, 2025 5:17 pm.
Quebec is in for another stretch of extreme cold, with temperatures continuing to dip across the province.
“This is our first real cold snap of the season so far in Montreal and for Quebec,” said Gina Ressler, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
On Tuesday, Montreal will experience partly cloudy skies with a high of -13°C, feeling like -19°C this afternoon with the wind chill. It felt like -23°C this morning.
“Now, even the last two mornings over Quebec, temperatures have dropped near minus-45, and these are the coldest temperatures actually in all of North America,” Ressler said. “So really, the polar vortex is located over Quebec.
“Now, the really extreme cold won’t reach as far south as Montreal, but these temperatures are still noteworthy for people in Montreal because it’s the coldest temperatures that we’ve had so far this season and perhaps even in about two years.”
The cold weather didn’t stop some Montrealers from enjoying the outdoors, as CityNews spotted people skating and tobogganing at Beaver Lake on Mount Royal.
The frigid temperatures will continue overnight, dropping to -28°C and posing a high risk for frostbite. Keep warm and stay covered up if you have to go outdoors.
On Wednesday, the sun will make a stronger appearance, but the temperature will remain cold at -13°C, with wind chills as low as -31°C in the morning and then -22°C in the afternoon.
“Just to put it in perspective, normally Montreal drops below minus 20 about six or seven times in January alone,” Ressler said. “So while this may kind of feel extreme since we haven’t seen these temperatures in a while, it’s actually just a return to kind of a typical Quebec winter.”
By Thursday, a return to more seasonal temperatures with periods of snow and a high of -8°C.
Sunny skies Friday and a high of -9°C, while the weekend will see a mix of sun and clouds, with -5°C on Saturday and -4°C as the high on Sunday.
A chance of flurries come Monday.
For more updates, check the latest forecast from Environment Canada’s website.
–With files from Gareth Madoc-Jones
