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Adapting to Extreme Heat Events: Guidelines for Assessing Health Vulnerability

Figure 7: Map of current and future vulnerability to extreme heat events in Quebec based on the projected number of hot days and four underlying indicators (i.e., age, poverty, social isolation, education)

Two maps of southern Quebec are overlaid with social vulnerability index scores assigned by regions and ranging from high (5.1 to 8.5) to low (0 to 1.0). These maps show current (1971- 2000) and projected future (2039-2063) vulnerability by combining the heat risk with other demographic factors (age, poverty, social isolation and education). The first map with areas of current high vulnerability are found largely north of the St. Lawrence River above Montreal and east of the river across from Quebec City. Montreal has medium vulnerability and Quebec City has lower vulnerability. The second map showing future vulnerability illustrates that vulnerability will increase and include much of the St Laurence corridor.