Quebec to see scorching temperatures to start the week, says Environment Canada

Southern Quebec is bracing for a heat wave as a warm and humid air mass pushes through Ontario and makes its way across the province.

Environment Canada meteorologist Julien Pellerin said the warmer temperatures will hit the Vaudreuil area as early as Sunday morning and will slowly spread across the Greater Montreal area through the day. 

By Monday, most of southern and southeastern Quebec will be affected by the air mass, Pellerin said, with temperatures reaching 30 C and above with humidex values between 40 and 45. 

"It's mostly the humidity in the air that will make it feel like really unbearable, if I can say, for some people," he said. 

The peak of the heat wave will hit on Monday and Tuesday with daytime highs expected to break records in Montreal, according to Pellerin. 

In an email to CBC he noted that the record for June 23 is 33.1 C and dates back to 2020, while the heat record for June 24 is 32.4, from 2003.

Those expecting to get some relief overnight will be out of luck, with temperatures expected to remain above 20 C. 

Stay hydrated, Environment Canada warns

And that is of concern, especially for people with chronic health conditions, older people and young children, Pellerin said, explaining that fatigue accumulates in the body and the warmer temperatures at night don't allow for recovery.

With that in mind, the weather agency is reminding people to stay hydrated and drink lots of water, even before feeling thirsty. 

It is also recommending that people plan any outdoor activities for the coolest parts of the days and to limit exposure to sunlight and heat. 

To cool down, people can take showers and should try to spend a few hours a day in an air-conditioned or cool location.

Meanwhile, those who work with people experiencing homelessness in the Montreal area expressed concern about how the heat wave will affect the unhoused. 

"Severe heat is a lot more difficult  to manage. In some instances, it's because people don't recognize just how hot it is and how important it is to hydrate. And so we've got a challenge ahead of us in the next couple of days," said Sam Watts, the CEO of the Welcome Hall Mission.

He added that heat waves are something the mission plans for every year, so they'll be ready to monitor people and keep them hydrated. 

There is, however, the added concern that Tuesday coincides with Fête Nationale which is a statutory holiday. 

That means places where people might go to seek out air conditioning like public libraries or malls might be closed.

Philippe Massé, a spokesperson for the city of Montreal, said no special recommendations or measures have been issued yet, but that could change.

"We are following the situation from hour to hour with public health," he told CBC News.