Aréna Joé-Juneau, QC

At 11:58 p.m. EDT, Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to nickel size hail and heavy rain.

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Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain overnight tonight.

Boaters may be surprised by strong wind gusts over bodies of water.

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Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to QCstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #QCStorm.

Heat event this week

A warm and humid air mass over Quebec will persist over the next few days. Temperatures will exceed the 30-degree mark during the day and will remain near 20 degrees during the night. Combined temperature and humidity values will produce humidex values of 40.

These conditions could persist until Saturday morning.

During times of high heat, your health and the health of your family and friends can deteriorate rapidly.

The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada, recommends that you protect yourself from the effects of the heat by taking the following actions:

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. As appropriate, follow your physician's instructions regarding the amount of fluid to drink;
Avoid alcoholic beverages;
If you can, spend at least 2 hours a day in an air conditioned or cool place;
Take at least one cool shower or bath per day, or cool your skin several times per day with wet towels;
Limit physical activity;
Wear light clothes.

Be sure to:
Never leave a child or a baby alone in a vehicle or a poorly ventilated room, even for a few minutes;
Check on your loved ones, especially those who are vulnerable or living alone.

If you have any questions regarding your health, call Info-Santé by dialing 8-1-1 or ask a health care provider. In case of emergency, call 9-1-1.

For more information, visit the Government of Quebec's Portail santé mieux-être at www.sante.gouv.qc.ca.

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Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to QCstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #QCStorm.