Environment Canada has confirmed what all Quebecers already noticed: September was exceptional in terms of temperature and rain.
According to meteorologist Alexandre Parent, average temperatures in September were about three degrees above seasonal standards, which happens only once or twice every 100 years. Temperatures clearly exceeded the normal maximum of 21 degrees for several days, breaking several records.
As for rainfall, it was 40 to 55 per cent lower, depending on the region. But Montreal, for example, got 54 millimetres of rain in September, compared with the normal of 83 millimetres.
Parent noted that September unfolded in two stages: the first 10 days were cooler than normal, caused in part by the remains of Hurricane Harvey hitting Quebec. Then, the next 20 days shattered seasonal norms.
And September will overflow into October, which got off to a hot and sunny start. Temperatures will be higher than normal at the beginning of the week.
"October forecast is above the normal, mainly for the first 2 weeks," Parent told CJAD 800 News