Severe Storms Are Not Over Yet

Wednesday brought widespread rain and thunderstorms across many parts of Quebec, with several areas receiving significant rainfall as storm cells passed through. The Montreal region was notably soaked in the evening, while Bellefeuille in Saint-Jérôme recorded 31 mm of rain and the Maniwaki area in Outaouais received 53 mm.

Thursday was expected to be another active day for thunderstorms, but the atmosphere was ultimately less productive than forecast. Although conditions remained hot, very humid, and unstable across much of southern Quebec, thunderstorms were relatively scarce and mostly limited to a few isolated cells. No major organized storm system developed, and the day remained far calmer than anticipated.

The main reason for the weaker-than-expected activity was the lack of a strong lifting mechanism. In other words, the warm, moist air near the surface did not get pushed upward efficiently enough to trigger widespread storm development. Even so, some of the strongest cells still produced locally heavy downpours.

Despite the reduced storm coverage, the weather remained very uncomfortable, with humidex values above 35 in several southern areas of the province. Dew points often exceeded 20°C, creating a muggy, sauna-like atmosphere.

Attention now shifts to Friday, which is expected to be the next major weather day to watch. A stronger frontal system should provide the lift that was missing on Thursday, and with warm, humid, and unstable air still in place, more numerous thunderstorms could form in the afternoon and continue into the evening. Some of these storms may become severe.