Historic December rains blast Quebec this week
Both the rain and mild temperatures smashed new December records in Quebec on Monday
A major and far-reaching low pressure system has been dragging a deep plume of tropical moisture into Quebec, fuelling rainfall rates that have now sent storm totals into record territory for this time of year.
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The Charlevoix region recorded the most impressive amounts of rain. More than 120 mm fell from Sunday to Monday, with 113 mm of that just on Monday.
Montreal broke an all-time daily December rainfall record on Monday, recording 53 mm of rain. That narrowly beat out the previous record of 51.2 mm set on December 18.
Not only did that set a new December record, it makes it the rainiest winter day ever for Montreal. Since Sunday, downtown Montreal has recorded 82 mm in the city centre.
In Quebec City and surrounding areas, a month's worth of heavy rain fell in less than 24 hours, prompting evacuations as snow melted and local rivers began to rise. and melted snow. Officials evacuated 27 homes along the Montmorency river near Beauport, just east of the capital city. According to a report with CBC News, water levels along the Montmorency river, which spills into the St. Lawrence, could reach 30- or 40-year highs — for the third time in a year.
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Most of southern Quebec sets new temperature records
In addition to the record-setting heavy rain, this system also pulled in very mild air from the Gulf of Mexico, pushing temperatures well above seasonal, and into record territory, as well.
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Temperatures reached a balmy 17.4°C in Cap-Chat, on the Gaspé coast. In Sherbrooke, the old record of 6.6°C on December 18, 1996 was absolutely shattered with a daytime high of 14.7°C reached on Monday.
Thumbnail image courtesy: Getty Images