Geography of Montreal#Climate

Montreal is the second largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec, located along the Saint Lawrence River at its junction with the Ottawa River. The city is geographically constrained, with the majority on the Island of Montreal in the Hochelaga Archipelago, and has several prominent features, including the eponymous Mount Royal. The region experiences four distinct seasons and is classified as a humid continental climate, with very cold and snowy winters and warm and humid summers.

Geographic location

File:ArrondissementsQuartiersMontreal 200802.svg

Montreal is located in the southwest of the province of Quebec, approximately {{convert|275|km|abbr=on}} southwest of Quebec City, the provincial capital, and {{convert|167|km|abbr=on}} east of Ottawa, the federal capital. It also lies {{convert|502|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Toronto, {{convert|407|km|abbr=on}} northwest of Boston and {{convert|530|km|abbr=on}} directly north of New York City.{{cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/distances.html?n=165|title=Cities located close to Montreal|date=1995–2008|work=Distance Calculator|publisher=Time and Date AS|access-date=2008-05-20}}

The city is located on the central and eastern portions of the Island of Montreal, the largest island in the Hochelaga Archipelago, at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. The port of Montreal lies at one end of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which is the river gateway that stretches from the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean.{{cite web|url=http://www.greatcanadianrivers.com/rivers/stlawer/stlawer-home.html|title=The St. Lawrence River|year=2007|publisher=Great Canadian Rivers|access-date=2008-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509075851/http://www.greatcanadianrivers.com/rivers/stlawer/stlawer-home.html|archive-date=2008-05-09|url-status=dead}} Montreal is defined by its location in between the St. Lawrence river on its south, and by the Rivière des Prairies on its north. The city is named after the most prominent geographical feature on the island, a three-head hill called Mount Royal.{{cite web|url=http://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/education/montreal_e.php |title=Island of Montreal |date=2007-09-17 |work=Geographical Names of Canada |publisher=Natural Resources Canada |access-date=2008-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531042123/http://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/education/montreal_e.php |archive-date=May 31, 2008 }}

Montreal is at the centre of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, and is bordered by the city of Laval to the north, Longueuil to the south, Repentigny to the east and the West Island municipalities to the west. The anglophone enclaves of Westmount, Montreal West, Hampstead, Côte Saint-Luc, the Town of Mount Royal and the francophone enclave Montreal East are all entirely surrounded by the city of Montreal.{{cite web|url=http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/page/MTL_STATISTIQUES_FR/media/documents/Decoupage_territoire_montrealais_2006.pdf |title=Découpage du territoire montréalais en 2006 |year=2006 |work=Montréal en statistiques |publisher=Ville de Montréal |language=fr |access-date=2008-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704221054/http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/page/MTL_STATISTIQUES_FR/media/documents/Decoupage_territoire_montrealais_2006.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-04 }}

Geology

There are three main geological regions in Quebec: the great igneous plains of the Canadian Shield, the Appalachians in southern Quebec, and the St. Lawrence lowlands that lie between them. Covering over 95% of Quebec, the Canadian Shield contains some of the oldest igneous rocks in the world, dating back to the Precambrian period, over 1 billion years ago. The Canadian Shield is generally quite flat and exposed, punctuated by the higher relief of mountain ranges such as the Laurentians in southern Quebec. The Appalachian region of Quebec is a thin strip of weathered mountains along Quebec's southeast border. The Appalachian mountain chain is actually a long range that runs from Alabama north to Newfoundland. The St. Lawrence lowlands are comparatively tiny in size (about {{convert|17280|km2|abbr=on}}) but disproportionately important in that they contain most of the human population of Quebec. The lowlands actually consist of three parts: the central lowlands, or the St. Lawrence Plain, a wide and flat triangle extending from Cornwall to Quebec City. The St. Lawrence Plain is almost entirely flat because of the clay deposits left behind by the Champlain Sea (which once covered all of Montreal).

Street directions

One quirk of common Montreal parlance is that directions (north, south, east, and west) along the street grid are sharply skewed relative to the actual compass directions. The St. Lawrence River is taken as flowing west to east (even though it flows north or northeast past the island), so that directions along streets parallel to the river are referred to as "west" and "east," and those along streets perpendicular to the river, "north" and "south." In much of Montreal, "north" is actually northwest, and in some areas such as Verdun and Pointe-aux-Trembles it is actually due west. The skew is greatest in Ville-Émard, where grid "north" on streets such as Rue Jolicœur is geographically west-southwest.

"Montreal directions" are used in naming street addresses and describing bus routes, among other things. As a result of this discrepancy, Montreal has been called "the only city where the sun sets in the north."

Further folk naming customs include giving directions involving going "up" or "down" streets that are perpendicular to the river; "up" being towards Mount Royal and "down" being towards the St. Lawrence. But the system can be confusing on the north side of the mountain, where "up" still means Montreal "north" as it does downtown, but will literally be downhill from Mount Royal.Chodos, Alan. [http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200403/upside-down.cfm Welcome to Montréal, Where Down is Up and the Sun Sets in the North.] APS Physics. Accessed July 1, 2011.

Streets are named "Ouest" or "Est" when they cross Saint Laurent Boulevard. Street numbers rise eastward and westward from Saint Laurent Boulevard, and northward from the St. Lawrence River and the Lachine Canal. (Rue Charlevoix, in Le Sud-Ouest borough, is the only remaining named "north-south" street with large numbers of addresses on both sides of the Lachine Canal. In this case, the addresses south of the Lachine Canal have a "0" prefixed to their street numbers, e.g., 0919 rue Charlevoix.)

Climate

{{climate chart

| Montreal

| -13.5 | -5.0 | 86

| -12.4 | -3.4 | 66

| - 6.5 | 2.4 | 77

| 1.1 | 11.3 | 90

| 8.3 | 19.4 | 86

| 13.8 | 24.2 | 84

| 16.7 | 26.7 | 91

| 15.6 | 25.7 | 94

| 10.9 | 21.1 | 89

| 4.5 | 13.2 | 103

| - 1.7 | 6.1 | 84

| - 8.7 | -1.2 | 92

|float=right

|clear=none

|source = Environment Canada }}

Montreal lies at the confluence of several climatic regions. The island's climate is classified as humid continental or hemiboreal (Köppen climate classification Dfb) but is close to the transition to (Köppen climate classification Dfa)

Precipitation is abundant with an average snowfall of {{convert|216.6|cm|abbr=on}} per year in the winter. Regular rainfall throughout the year averages {{convert|818.3|mm|abbr=on}}. Summer is the wettest season statistically, but it is also the sunniest.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

The coldest month of the year is January, with a daily average temperature of {{convert|-9.2|C}} — averaging a daily low of {{convert|-13.5|C}}, colder than either Moscow ({{convert|−10|C}}) or Saint Petersburg ({{convert|−6|C}}).{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}} Due to wind chill, the perceived temperature can be much lower than the actual temperature, and wind chill factor is often included in Montreal weather forecasts. The warmest month is July with an average daily high of {{convert|26.7|C}}; lower nighttime temperatures make an average of {{convert|21.7|C}}, thus air exchangers often achieve the same result as air conditioners. The lowest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-37.8|C}} on 15 January 1957 and the highest temperature ever was {{convert|37.6|C}} on 1 August 1975. High humidity is common in the summer, which makes the perceived temperature higher than the actual temperature. In spring and autumn, rainfall averages between {{convert|67|and|102|mm|abbr=on}} a month. Some snow in spring and autumn is normal. Similarly, early and late heat waves with "Indian summers" are a regular feature of the climate.{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/climatology/monthly/CAXX0301|publisher=Weather.com|title=Average Weather for Montreal, QC — Temperature and Precipitation}}

2006 was noted as the only year in the history of Montreal when there was more rain than there was snow.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}} There were {{convert|122.3|cm|abbr=on}} of snow, and there were {{convert|1225.2|mm|abbr=on}} of rain. That year, Montreal received more rain than Vancouver, British Columbia.[http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/monthly_data_e.html?hlyRange=1953-01-01%7C2013-02-14&dlyRange=1941-09-01%7C2017-05-31&mlyRange=1941-01-01%7C2017-05-01&StationID=5415&Prov=QC&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2017&selRowPerPage=25&Line=18&searchMethod=contains&Month=11&Day=2&txtStationName=Montreal&timeframe=3&Year=2006 Montreal Monthly Data Report for 2006]{{Cite web |url=http://climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climateData/monthlydata_e.html?timeframe=3&Prov=XX&StationID=889&Year=2006&Month=1&Day=1 |title=Vancouver Monthly Data Report for 2006 |access-date=2008-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523095116/http://climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/climateData/monthlydata_e.html?timeframe=3&Prov=XX&StationID=889&Year=2006&Month=1&Day=1 |archive-date=2008-05-23 |url-status=dead }}

August 9, 2024 was the rainiest day in Montreal's history, with {{convert|145|mm|abbr=on}} of rain falling on the downtown core as Hurricane Debby swept over the city.{{Cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/debby-inundates-montreal-area-with-record-amount-of-rainfall|title=Power nearly restored across Quebec after record rainfall from Debby|access-date=2024-12-05}}

Montreal is ranked 160 out of 190 world cities in the 2018 STC Climate index, a ranking of the best climates in which to live and work.[http://globalresidenceindex.com/hnwi-index/climate-index/ The STC 2018 Climate Index]

= Sunshine =

Montreal and the southern Quebec region receive slightly over 2,050 hours of sunshine annually, with summer being the sunniest season. The sunniest month is July with 272 hours, and the least sunny is December With November not too far off with around 80 hours for the two.

Montreal receives more sunshine than northern and northwestern Europe, even in locations at similar or even somewhat farther south latitudes, especially during winter.

= Precipitation =

The city's average annual precipitation is {{convert|1041|mm|abbr=on}}, including {{convert|818|mm|abbr=on}} of rain and {{convert|217|cm|round=0.5|abbr=on}} of snow.

As in the Northeastern U.S. and most of Southeastern Canada, precipitation is spread evenly throughout the year, with no wet or dry seasons. Montreal has 163 days annually with some rain or snow.

Thunderstorms can occur any time between late spring and early autumn.

=Statistics=

{{Weather box

| location = McGill University (McTavish)
Climate ID: 7025280; coordinates {{coordinates|45|30|N|73|35|W|type:landmark_region:CA-QC|name=Montreal McGill}}; elevation: {{convert|56.9|m|abbr=on}}; 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1871–present{{efn|Extreme high and low temperatures in the table below are from Montreal McGill (July 1871 to March 1993) and McTavish (July 1994 to present).}}

| metric first = Y

| single line = Y

| Jan record high C = 12.8

| Feb record high C = 15.0

| Mar record high C = 25.9

| Apr record high C = 30.1

| May record high C = 34.2

| Jun record high C = 34.5

| Jul record high C = 36.1

| Aug record high C = 35.6

| Sep record high C = 33.5

| Oct record high C = 28.9

| Nov record high C = 22.2

| Dec record high C = 17.0

| year record high C = 36.1

| Jan high C = -5.4

| Feb high C = -3.7

| Mar high C = 2.4

| Apr high C = 11.0

| May high C = 19.0

| Jun high C = 23.7

| Jul high C = 26.6

| Aug high C = 24.8

| Sep high C = 19.4

| Oct high C = 12.3

| Nov high C = 5.1

| Dec high C = -2.3

| year high C = 11.1

| Jan mean C = −8.9

| Feb mean C = −7.2

| Mar mean C = −1.2

| Apr mean C = 7.0

| May mean C = 14.5

| Jun mean C = 19.3

| Jul mean C = 22.3

| Aug mean C = 20.8

| Sep mean C = 15.7

| Oct mean C = 9.2

| Nov mean C = 2.5

| Dec mean C = -5.6

| year mean C = 7.4

| Jan low C = -12.4

| Feb low C = -10.6

| Mar low C = -4.8

| Apr low C = 2.9

| May low C = 10.0

| Jun low C = 14.9

| Jul low C = 17.9

| Aug low C = 16.7

| Sep low C = 11.9

| Oct low C = 5.9

| Nov low C = -0.2

| Dec low C = -8.9

| year low C = 3.6

| Jan record low C = -33.5

| Feb record low C = -33.3

| Mar record low C = -28.9

| Apr record low C = -17.8

| May record low C = -5.0

| Jun record low C = 1.1

| Jul record low C = 7.8

| Aug record low C = 6.1

| Sep record low C = 0.0

| Oct record low C = -7.2

| Nov record low C = -27.8

| Dec record low C = -33.9

| year record low C = -33.9

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 73.6

| Feb precipitation mm = 70.9

| Mar precipitation mm = 80.2

| Apr precipitation mm = 76.9

| May precipitation mm = 86.5

| Jun precipitation mm = 87.5

| Jul precipitation mm = 106.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 100.6

| Sep precipitation mm = 100.8

| Oct precipitation mm = 84.3

| Nov precipitation mm = 93.6

| Dec precipitation mm = 101.5

| year precipitation mm = 1062.5

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 28.4

| Feb rain mm = 22.7

| Mar rain mm = 42.2

| Apr rain mm = 65.2

| May rain mm = 86.5

| Jun rain mm = 87.5

| Jul rain mm = 106.2

| Aug rain mm = 100.6

| Sep rain mm = 100.8

| Oct rain mm = 82.1

| Nov rain mm = 68.9

| Dec rain mm = 44.4

| year rain mm = 834.9

|snow colour=green

| Jan snow cm = 45.9

| Feb snow cm = 46.6

| Mar snow cm = 36.8

| Apr snow cm = 11.8

| May snow cm = 0.4

| Jun snow cm = 0.0

| Jul snow cm = 0.0

| Aug snow cm = 0.0

| Sep snow cm = 0.0

| Oct snow cm = 2.2

| Nov snow cm = 24.9

| Dec snow cm = 57.8

| year snow cm = 226.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm

| unit rain days = 0.2 mm

| unit snow days = 0.2 cm

| Jan precipitation days = 15.8

| Feb precipitation days = 12.8

| Mar precipitation days = 13.6

| Apr precipitation days = 12.5

| May precipitation days = 12.9

| Jun precipitation days = 13.8

| Jul precipitation days = 12.3

| Aug precipitation days = 13.4

| Sep precipitation days = 12.7

| Oct precipitation days = 13.1

| Nov precipitation days = 15.0

| Dec precipitation days = 16.2

| year precipitation days = 163.9

| Jan rain days = 4.3

| Feb rain days = 4.0

| Mar rain days = 7.4

| Apr rain days = 10.9

| May rain days = 12.8

| Jun rain days = 13.8

| Jul rain days = 12.3

| Aug rain days = 13.4

| Sep rain days = 12.7

| Oct rain days = 12.7

| Nov rain days = 11.5

| Dec rain days = 6.5

| year rain days = 122.2

| Jan snow days = 13.6

| Feb snow days = 11.1

| Mar snow days = 8.3

| Apr snow days = 3.0

| May snow days = 0.14

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.62

| Nov snow days = 5.3

| Dec snow days = 12.0

| year snow days = 53.9

| Jan sun = 99.2

| Feb sun = 119.5

| Mar sun = 158.8

| Apr sun = 181.7

| May sun = 229.8

| Jun sun = 250.1

| Jul sun = 271.6

| Aug sun = 230.7

| Sep sun = 174.1

| Oct sun = 138.6

| Nov sun = 80.4

| Dec sun = 80.7

| year sun = 2015.2

| source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada

{{cite web

| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada

| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=mcgill&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=5420&dispBack=1

| title = Montreal McGill

| date=19 January 2011 | access-date = 12 June 2016}}

{{cite web

| url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1994-02-01%7C2016-06-10&dlyRange=1994-07-26%7C2016-06-10&mlyRange=%7C&StationID=10761&Prov=QC&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2016&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&searchMethod=contains&Month=9&Day=11&txtStationName=mctavish&timeframe=2&Year=2008

| title= Daily Data Report for September 2008