{"id":255542,"date":"2026-01-24T15:30:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T15:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/255542\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T15:30:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T15:30:09","slug":"quebec-faces-bone-chilling-polar-vortex-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/255542\/","title":{"rendered":"Quebec faces bone-chilling polar vortex this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Text<\/p>\n

Listen to this article<\/p>\n

Estimated 4 minutes<\/p>\n

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.<\/p>\n

A strong polar vortex will slam into Quebec this weekend, bringing the coldest weather of the season.<\/p>\n

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a yellow warning \u2014 meaning moderate impact \u2014 for most of the province and parts of Ontario. Farther west, the warning has reached orange, meaning high impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cVery cold weather is forecast this weekend,\u201d the ECCC says on its website. \u201cExtreme cold puts everyone at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday, wind chill values will reach near \u201335 C overnight and early Sunday morning. The ECCC recommends people dress warmly, in layers, including a wind-resistant outer layer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And if it\u2019s too cold for you to stay outside, it\u2019s too cold for your pet.<\/p>\n

WATCH | It’s going to be really cold in Quebec:\"\"<\/p>\n

Bundle up. A polar vortex will freeze Quebec this weekend<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This weekend, a high of \u201320 C is forecasted. To put that in perspective, most standard freezers are set at \u201318 C.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could reach below \u201335 C in the northern part of the region that we are concerned about, let\u2019s say Abitibi, Lac-Saint-Jean, maybe the northernmost part of Mauricie as well,\u201d said Simon Legault, a meteorologist with ECCC.<\/p>\n

Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec readies for cold<\/p>\n

Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThis 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

WATCH | Exploding trees due to the cold? Not quite:\"\"<\/p>\n

No, trees aren\u2019t exploding due to the cold. But see the damage winter is causing<\/p>\n

A cold-weather phenomenon affecting trees in Canada has gained attention due to the way it\u2019s being described in viral social media posts.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Finally, in enclosed spaces like tents, beware fire hazards and silent, deadly carbon monoxide from heating or cooking devices, it says.<\/p>\n

Montreal offers warming stations<\/p>\n

Claude Pinard, chair of Montreal\u2019s executive committee and responsible for homelessness, told CBC Montreal\u2019s Let\u2019s Go<\/a> on Friday that the city has been getting ready for the cold. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s now room for more than 3,000 people to warm up. While his administration is meeting its campaign promises, he said it\u2019s still not enough.<\/p>\n

WATCH | More warming shelters in Montreal:\"\"<\/p>\n

Montreal has added spots in warming shelters. How effective are they?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I look at the occupancy rate, it\u2019s over 90, but not at 100. We are confident that we have a sweet spot, but we know it\u2019s not enough,\u201d said Pinard, noting not everybody living precariously wants to use the services.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this for 18 editions now. Usually our fans prepare for it as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLayering is your best friend. You\u2019re going to have to look like a colourful little sandwich if you want to come to Igloofest this weekend.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to this article Estimated 4 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":255543,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[242,85,46,141],"class_list":["post-255542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255542\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}