Synthesis of knowledge on Temperature Trends in Quebec
Project details
Context
Across Quebec, average seasonal temperatures are rising, reflecting a climate trend that has been observed for several decades.
Produced by the Ouranos team, this synthesis of knowledge provides an in-depth, quantitative overview of recent and future temperature trends in Quebec. It presents seasonal and annual climate information on normals, variability, and extremes that describe the climate observed so far and anticipated changes. It offers an overview of promising research perspectives.
We would like to acknowledge the contribution of all the researchers and specialists who made this project possible. Their work forms the scientific foundation upon which this publication is based.
Across the province of Quebec, average seasonal temperatures are rising. However, the winter season remains the one in which these increases are most pronounced.
A reduction in the severity of extreme cold temperatures is already being observed in Quebec, and this trend will continue through the end of the century.
Widespread warming, amplified in winter and spring in northern regions, is projected under moderate and high emission scenarios by mid-century:
Average temperature increase of 2 to 6 degrees in winter for 2041–2070 / SSP 2-4.5
Average temperature increase of 1 to 3 degrees in spring, summer, and fall for 2041–2070 / SSP 2–4.5
Across Quebec, winters will become increasingly warmer. Temperature fluctuations will also occur within a narrowing range.
Annual extreme temperatures will rise across the entire province, with particularly marked warming in Nunavik and coastal regions.
In the future, it will become increasingly difficult to break cold temperature records, while, conversely, high temperature records will be broken with greater ease.
Scientific publications
Check out the climate projections for air temperatures in Quebec on Portraits climatiques!
