Evolution of the local climate in Montreal and Ottawa before, during and after a heatwave and the effects on urban heat islands

The heatwave event to which the Ontario-Quebec area was subjected in 2018 resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, an investigation was conducted on how this heatwave affected the respective urban heat islands (UHIs) in Montreal and Ottawa. The modelled urban climates were compared before, during and after the heatwave using a Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model having a 1 km spatial resolution. The UHI was calculated using two methods. As a first method, the “rural-ring” method was used to calculate the UHI in regard to temperature differences between urban and surrounding rural areas. The second method used the “urban-increment” approach where simulation results were compared to another simulation in which urban cells are replaced by croplands. Results show that urban land can raise temperatures by up to 12 °C at surfaces and 6 °C in the near-surface air. A synoptic anticyclone in the lower atmosphere was responsible for the heatwave, although both cities were located in areas peripheral to the anticyclone. During the heatwave, precipitation at the initial stage of the event and low wind conditions largely varied the pattern of the UHI effect within each urban center. The UHI was generally unchanged or even reduced during this heatwave, but there was substantial diurnal variation. Around noon and in the afternoon, the UHI was amplified by up to 3 °C, whereas it was suppressed or even negative at sunrise.