Weather

Weather

During your stay at the igloft, you will have to tune your outings according to the weather. In addition to assimilating the concepts of the information sheet # 13 that explains cold weather management, we share with you additional concepts and resources in this section.

The temperature felt

The felt temperature or wind chill index is an index that expresses the subjective sensation of cold or heat according to the measured temperature, wind and relative humidity. Historically developed in Canada and the United States, the index is evaluated by empirical formulas in such a way that it is intuitively comparable to the temperature that would cause the same sensation on bare skin in conditions of no wind and humidity relative normal.

Gusts of wind

A gust (or wind gust) is a brief increase in the speed of the wind, usually less than 20 seconds. It is of a more transient character than a squall, which lasts minutes, and is followed by a lull or slackening in the wind speed. They are caused either by the instability of the air, or by topographical or artificial obstacles, such as tall buildings.

Blowing snow

Blowing snow is snow lifted from the surface by the wind, at eye level (1.8 m or 6 ft) or more, that will reduce visibility. Blowing snow can come from falling snow or snow that already accumulated on the ground but is picked up and blown about by strong winds. It is one of the classic requirements for a blizzard. 

The particularities of the aera

Although partially covered from the winds thanks to the nearby islands, the igloft accommodation is located in a particular area. Indeed, because of the position of the prevailing winds and the morphology of the lake, the gusts often bring large accumulations of snow when the blowing snow phenomenon sets in. Be aware that in addition to reduced visibility, excursionists could encounter the appearance of large snowflakes on the trails. It is all the more important at this time to understand the portrait of the weather during your stay in the igloft.

Water infiltration areas

Each year, adjustments to the water level of Lac-Saint-Jean are made in order to control the flow of rivers. These fluctuations can cause certain areas to be subject to water infiltration. This is because a quantity of water can possibly seep into the ice and leave a liquid accumulation under the snow. Be aware that this phenomenon is common and does not affect the thickness of the ice.

Contact information

Here are some resources to help you get the most detailed possible picture of the weather during your stay at the igloft:

Environment Canada: 418 669-5055 (Alma) https://meteo.gc.ca/city/pages/qc-144_metric_e.html

Weather forecast Media: https://www.meteomedia.com/ca/meteo/quebec/saint-gedeon-lac-saint-jean-est