More strong thunderstorms are likely to hit parts of Quebec on Monday, warns Environment Canada. Le Devoir
On Sunday evening, violent thunderstorms hit southern Quebec, cutting power to over 12,000 homes. At one point during the storm, more than 22,000 homes lost electricity. By 9:15 p.m., nearly 12,500 homes were still in the dark.
The storms caused the most damage in Laval, where 3,024 homes lost power. Montérégie followed with 2,041 affected homes. The Laurentians had 1,601, Chaudière-Appalaches had 1,063, and Montreal counted 946 outages. Some regions like Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, and Nord-du-Québec remained untouched.
Why the Power Went Out
The power company confirmed no major network damage. However, fallen trees and branches caused most of the outages by hitting power lines. Crews were called in for support. Full operations are expected to resume Monday.
Hydro-Québec said teams are ready and will work through the evening and into the week to fix the remaining issues.
Estrie Region Hit Hard
The storms were especially harsh in Estrie. Strong winds in Sherbrooke reached up to 60 km/h. Rain and lightning also added to the trouble.
Environment Canada warned that the bad weather might return Monday.
More Storms on the Way
According to meteorologist Katarina Radovanovic, more thunderstorms will arrive overnight. These storms will first reach Outaouais, then move toward the Greater Montreal area and Centre-du-Québec by Monday afternoon. Eastern Townships and Beauce will likely get hit in the evening.
Some areas could get between 40 and 50 millimeters of rain. Wind gusts could reach up to 70 km/h.
Safety Measures Advised
Officials are asking people to stay alert and prepare for another round of bad weather. If you see a downed power line, stay away and report it. Keep flashlights, batteries, and water handy in case the power goes out again.
People are also advised to avoid travel during heavy rain or strong winds unless necessary.
