The roof of this house in Très-Saint-Rédempteur was completely torn off by the winds. PHOTO: RADIO-CANADA / RAPHAËLLE DROUIN
On Monday around 5:30 p.m., a tornado struck Très-Saint-Rédempteur and Rigaud in Montérégie, severely damaging at least three houses. By Tuesday, residents began the process of cleaning up and evaluating the destruction left in the rural area, where the tornado had ripped off entire roofs, brought down electrical lines, and uprooted numerous trees.
The Sûreté du Québec confirmed that, despite the tornado's intensity—a rarity in Quebec—no injuries occurred. The damage was extensive, with one house losing its roof entirely to the powerful winds.
Residents were still reeling from the sudden and forceful storm. Roger Marchlik, a local, described how his wife witnessed their roof being torn away and how the street was left completely blocked by debris. Yolande Rondeau, another resident, found herself trapped on her property due to fallen trees obstructing her mile-long path, making it difficult for her to leave.
Daniel Gélinas shared his harrowing experience of seeing swirling clouds while having coffee at home. He quickly grabbed his dog and took shelter in the basement just before the tornado struck, tearing off his roof, flattening his garage, and scattering his belongings.
Images captured by Derek Kelly and shared by Radio-Canada showed the tornado's impact in Très-Saint-Rédempteur. Mayor Julie Lemieux emphasized the importance of having a 72-hour emergency kit ready for such unexpected events.
The tornado also caused damage in the neighboring town of Rigaud. According to Guillaume Roy, the interim director of the Rigaud Fire Safety Service, four houses were damaged, including one that lost its roof. Additionally, two barns and two grain silos suffered significant damage.
Experts from Environment and Climate Change Canada, which had issued tornado alerts and watches for the Laurentians and Outaouais regions throughout the day, are expected to assess the tornado's strength.
The storm's strong winds and rain affected a vast area of southern Quebec, causing damage and multiple power outages from Maniwaki in the north to the American border. By late afternoon, Hydro-Québec reported that over 4,000 homes were still without power, primarily in the Laurentides, Lanaudière, Laval, and Montérégie regions.
This tornado marks the first of the season in Quebec, where an average of seven tornadoes occur annually.
