Published on January 28, 2026 at 12:21 a.m.
If you were hoping for a little mildness for the final stretch of meteorological winter, you will have to be patient. The strong trend established since the fall seems to want to continue: February also promises to be cold.
In short:
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A 4th consecutive month below seasonal norms in sight;
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The cold is particularly harsh on southern Quebec;
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The heart of the month looks set to be biting before a slight recovery.
The winter of 2025-2026 is one of the coldest in recent memory. Since November, southern Quebec has been below normal temperatures. February is likely to become the fourth consecutive month to follow this trend.
The south stuck in the freezer
It is the most inhabited sectors of the province that will suffer the most. If northern Quebec could get away with temperatures closer to normal and even above, the south of the province will remain trapped in the cold.
The start will be on the cold side, but it is the central third of the month that attracts attention. The heart of February promises to be particularly striking. It is only towards the very end of the month that the mercury should rise towards normal levels, although it will probably remain below them.
Insufficient sunlight gain to warm us
With the sun regaining strength, a gain of 1 hour 20 minutes of sunshine between the 1st and the 28th, temperatures are normally rising. Historical data shows that we gain around 3°C in average temperature between the first and second half of the month.
However, this year, this gain will not be enough to mask the ambient cold. “This time, both halves of the month should be colder than normal,” according to meteorologist Nicolas Lessard. The hat, scarf and mittens will therefore remain in place for the entire month.
With the collaboration of Nicolas Lessard, meteorologist.
