The Greater Montreal and southwestern Québec region is expected to experience its hottest July day in 10 years today, with an expected temperature of up to 36 degrees.
The combined temperature and humidity values will produce a humidex factor between 40 and 43 degrees Celsius.
There is also a risk for violent thunderstorms almost everywhere in Southern Quebec later this afternoon.
This heat wave will stretch until the middle of next week according to Environment Canada, and will be marked by very high humidity.
Right now, according to SOPFEU, there is a moderate risk for forest and brush fires in the Chateauguay Valley.
Regardless, The Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) has decided to lift the total ban on open fires .
This decision, taken in conjunction with the Society of protection of forests against fire (SOPFEU), thus causes the total lifting of the ban from July 7 to 20 pm .
It is always recommended that one uses a fireplace with a spark arrester (with maximum openings of 1 cm by 1 cm), placed on a paving stone or on a clear ground of beaten earth or gravel, you can continue to benefit from the heat of a good fire, even when there is a ban on open fires.
However, we invite you to consult your municipality. The latter could have more stringent regulations which will take precedence over MFFP regulations.
Currently, there are 18 active forest fires In Québec. Since the start of the protection season, 566 fires have affected 61,384.7 hectares.
The average of the last ten years on the same date is 274 fires for 34,570.7 hectares of forest.
SOPFEU.qc.ca
Environmentcanada.gc.ca
