2022 has not been easy on the climate. In May, Pakistan was literally baking with a temperature of 50°C. France has experienced 3 heat waves, followed by forest fires, never seen in its history. In California, extreme temperatures took over from torrential rains. When we see these major events, we notice that Quebec was relatively spared this year. Indeed, our parks remained green, there was no lack of water despite the low water table at the beginning of the year. On the opposite, the region received a lot of rain, especially on June 16 and September 13.
The storm Fiona, which hit the Madelaine Islands, brings us back to our new reality with its share of damage and human distress. On this theme, on September 3rd, a Radio-Canada report was published entitled “Un seul ouragan depuis le début de la saison: est-ce le calme avant la tempête?“. In this report, I was interviewed in order to determine if this situation was normal, given the changing climate. I emphasized two points:,
- The importance of looking at long-term trends. In practice, we cannot say whether in 2022 we should have more or less storms. Only studies over several years give us the trends.
- Scientific studies show that there will be more category 4 and 5 hurricanes. These hurricanes, some of which may arrive in Quebec as post-tropical cyclones, will bring more rain. Another important fact is that those that reach the Gulf of St. Lawrence will hit coastal regions that have experienced a rise in sea level, such as the Magdalen Islands. Storm Fiona is a perfect example.
The fact that there were no fatalities in Canada is welcome news. However, many families were left homeless and the costs of recovery are increasing. These events illustrate what is expected in the future, namely an increase in the frequency and intensity of intense precipitation events. Fortunately, there are very real solutions, such as these two examples of resilient spaces in Montreal. Not only does this make the neighbourhood more beautiful, but it also temporarily relieves the sewer system. Talk about a co-benefit!
Compared to other regions of the world, Quebec is doing relatively well. This summer, it’s a bit like being in the eye of the storm, after the floods (2017 and 2019) and droughts (2018 and 2020) that did a lot of social and economic damage. Storm Fiona brings us back to reality. And the models are clear: over the next few years, the deregulated climate will bring us more extreme events, whether intense precipitation or heat waves. Let’s take advantage of this apparent calm to prepare through climate resilience, while accelerating our efforts to address the root cause of the problem, our GHG emissions.
Let’s be ready to ride out the storm!
