Quebec faces bone-chilling polar vortex this weekend

A strong polar vortex will slam into Quebec this weekend, bringing the coldest weather of the season.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a yellow warning — meaning moderate impact — for most of the province and parts of Ontario. Farther west, the warning has reached orange, meaning high impact. 

“Very cold weather is forecast this weekend,” the ECCC says on its website. “Extreme cold puts everyone at risk.”

On Saturday, wind chill values will reach near –35 C overnight and early Sunday morning. The ECCC recommends people dress warmly, in layers, including a wind-resistant outer layer. 

And if it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet.

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Environment and Climate Change Canada is warning people to be properly dressed if they venture outside this weekend, with low temperatures bringing an elevated risk of frostbite.

Cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frostbite and hypothermia, the ECCC explains. 

This weekend, a high of –20 C is forecasted. To put that in perspective, most standard freezers are set at –18 C.

“We could reach below –35 C in the northern part of the region that we are concerned about, let’s say Abitibi, Lac-Saint-Jean, maybe the northernmost part of Mauricie as well,” said Simon Legault, a meteorologist with ECCC.

Hydro-Québec readies for cold

Hydro-Québec is gearing up for peak electricity demand as everyone heats their homes. It is forecasting an annual peak consumption of 40,000 megawatts on Sunday morning, exceeding the Crown corporation’s production capacity of 37,000 megawatts.

In an interview with Midi Info, spokesperson Cendrix Bouchard expressed optimism. He pointed out that the corporation had already met an even higher demand in 2023, around 43,000 megawatts.

The Crown corporation offers tools, such as dynamic pricing, to help Quebec households and businesses better manage their electricity consumption, Bouchard said.

“This includes, among other measures, customers shifting their usage outside of peak periods in exchange for financial compensation in the form of a credit on their bill,” he said.

Montreal Public Health is also warning people about the cold on its website, offering tips on how to stay protected. When dealing with extreme cold, the health agency says basic precautions can prevent serious risks like frostbite and hypothermia.

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To stay safe, drink hot beverages, eat frequently and avoid cotton against the skin, which retains moisture. Change out of wet clothes promptly and inform a trusted contact of your whereabouts, the agency says.

The agency warns that alcohol or drug use heightens hypothermia risks, urging users to avoid consuming alone, keep naloxone unfrozen and administer it with a 911 call if breathing falters.

Finally, in enclosed spaces like tents, beware fire hazards and silent, deadly carbon monoxide from heating or cooking devices, it says.

Montreal offers warming stations

Claude Pinard, chair of Montreal’s executive committee and responsible for homelessness, told CBC Montreal’s Let’s Go on Friday that the city has been getting ready for the cold.

There’s now room for more than 3,000 people to warm up. While his administration is meeting its campaign promises, he said it’s still not enough.

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The city of Montreal has added 534 temporary spots in warming shelters. Though organizations that help people experiencing homelessness welcome the measure, they also say that one of the challenges is ensuring that these individuals know about the facilities.

“If I look at the occupancy rate, it’s over 90, but not at 100. We are confident that we have a sweet spot, but we know it’s not enough,” said Pinard, noting not everybody living precariously wants to use the services. 

As far as outdoor recreation is concerned, the show must go on. Igloofest is taking place in Montreal despite the frigid temperatures. Tasha Prentice, spokesperson for the festival, said festival staff are ready for the cold with first responders and protocols in place. 

“We’ve been doing this for 18 editions now. Usually our fans prepare for it as well,” she said.

“Layering is your best friend. You’re going to have to look like a colourful little sandwich if you want to come to Igloofest this weekend.”