Montreal

Montreal or Montréal1 (pronounced in Canadian English, in standard French, and {{IPA |/mɒM1;ɾeal/}} in Quebecois French) is the second largest city in Canada. According to the most recent Canadian census (2001), the city itself has 1,812,723 inhabitants while 3,426,350 people live in the Greater Montreal Area (Statistics Canada, 2001). {{ref|populationestimate}}{{ref|gma}} It is the largest city and primary economic centre of the province of Quebec, of which it constitutes an administrative region.

Climate

Thanks to competing climactic influences, the climate in Montreal varies greatly, both by season and from day to day, and is considered a character of the city by Montrealers.

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Precipitation is abundant with an average snowfall of 2.4 metres per year in the winter and regular rainfall throughout the year. Each year the city government spends more than $50 million on snow removal. Frequent thunderstorms make summer the wettest season statistically, but it is also the sunniest.

Related Topics:
Precipitation - Snowfall - Rainfall - Snow removal - Thunderstorms - Summer

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The coldest month is January with a daily average of −10.4°C (13°F). Due to wind chill, the perceived temperature can be much lower than the actual temperature, and wind chill indices are often included in Montreal weather forecasts. The warmest month is July with a daily average of 20.9°C (70°F). The lowest temperature ever recorded is −37.8°C (−36.0°F) on January 15, 1957, and the highest temperature ever was 37.6°C (99.7°F) on August 1, 1975 .

Related Topics:
January - Wind chill - July - January 15 - 1957 - August 1 - 1975

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Moderate to high humidity is common in the summer. In spring and autumn, rainfall averages between 55 to 94 mm (2.5 to 4 inches) a month. Some snow in spring and autumn is normal. Similarly, late heat waves as well as "Indian summers" are a regular feature of the climate.

Related Topics:
Humidity - Spring - Autumn - Indian summers

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Despite its widely varying climate, the Montreal region supports a diverse array of plants and wildlife. The maple is one of the most common trees, and the sugar maple in particular is an enduring symbol of Montreal and Quebec, thanks to the production of maple syrup.

Related Topics:
Plants - Wildlife - Maple - Tree - Sugar maple - Quebec - Maple syrup

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