This season's frost-free period in Montreal stands out. Here's why
While temperatures are dropping, some areas in Canada still haven't officially experienced their first frost of the season. Those chilly days are still elusive and are contributing to Montreal's slide in the rankings of the longest, frost-free periods
The first frost in Montreal (according to data recorded at the airport) this season is still missing, but there will be a couple of opportunities to catch it in the coming days.
The next chance for the first frost seems more likely to be from Nov. 6-7. "Thursday night into Friday, clear skies could allow for a sub-zero night," notes MétéoMédia meteorologist Patrick Duplessis.
That would put it quite close to the all-time record for the latest occurrence of the first frost, which is Nov. 7 in Montreal. That record was set eight years ago.
The last spring frost was on April 21. Therefore, if the first autumn frost occurs on Nov. 6 or 7 in Montreal, it would place the city among the top three longest frost-free periods.
"The longest such streak for Montreal was in 2017. There were 207 frost-free days in the metropolitan area then. This year, everything indicates that we should approach 200 days," notes Duplessis.
Technically, it might not be a record, but it's still well above the normal 173 days.
Official record
Meanwhile, a region in northern Quebec has already set a record for its latest first frost of the season, and the historic moment is still unfolding.
This is Kuujjuarapik on the Hudson Bay coast. For this area located so far north, it's quite surprising a frost hasn't been recorded. Its previous record was Oct. 27––a mark set in both 2007 and 2022.
For now, the first frost is expected on night of Nov. 5.into November 6.
With files from Patrick Duplessis, a meteorologist at MétéoMédia.
This article was translated to English from MétéoMédia, The Weather Network’s Quebec-based sister station.