The majority of residents upset by the floods will finally be able to breathe in the coming days, but it will still be necessary to remain on the lookout in certain corners of the province, warn experts.
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“The worst would indeed be behind us”, summarizes Kevin Cloutier, meteorologist at MétéoMédia.
The last piles of snow have melted in many areas, whether in the Laurentians, Outaouais or Mauricie. Charlevoix, for example, is an exception to the rule, where about thirty centimeters always litter the ground.
Another encouraging factor: no significant precipitation is expected in the coming week, says Mr. Cloutier.
Laurent Lavoie / JdeM
Terrasse-Vaudreuil was still covered by water this Saturday.
However, we will have to remain cautious, insists Philippe Gachon, general manager of the Réseau Inondations InterSectoriel du Québec.
“What is going to be to watch […], is that there are reservoirs that have filled up in the north, he says. There is generally a second influx of water, from the moment Hydro-Québec begins to release water and it flows towards Gatineau and other sectors.
- Listen to Yasmine Abdelfadel’s interview with Jacques Demers, president of the Quebec Federation of Municipalities, mayor of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley and prefect of the mrc Memphrémagog via QUB-radio :
Falling
At the end of the day Saturday, the level of several rivers across the province was down, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
There were still major floods in Lac des Deux-Montagnes, near Pointe-Calumet, as well as in the Ottawa River, Quesnel Bay and Britannia Park in Ottawa.
Laurent Lavoie / JdeM
In Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a small boat was available to a citizen who needs it to get to her home.
In Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a municipality located 40 kilometers west of downtown Montreal, moderate flooding was observed.
Nevertheless, the residents met on site by The newspaper seemed relieved that the worst was over, at least for this year.
The morale is good
During our visit, several fields were still covered with a large amount of water.
“The problem is knowing how high it will go. Once you know it, it’s just to wait for it to go down, summarizes Pierre de Tonnancour, who does not note any major damage to his property. With the week of good weather [qui s’en vient]it’s going to be pretty good.”
Laurent Lavoie / JdeM
Residences in Terrasse-Vaudreuil are always surrounded by water.
His neighbour, Charl Engelbrecht, arrived from South Africa last October. After the ice storm that caused breakdowns, he discovered the joys of spring flooding.
“It’s interesting [comme nouvelle réalité]he laughs, observing his courtyard, half submerged in water. As soon as my neighbors start getting more nervous, so will I.”
To take notes
If the level of stress is down among residents, Quebec will have to roll up its sleeves for the future, says Philippe Gachon, director general of the Réseau Inondations InterSectoriel du Québec.
The researcher recalls that some floods had occurred in the 1970s and 1990s.
However, the fact that there were such major floods in a short period of time in 2017, 2019 and 2023 testifies to the urgency of acting to protect against the phenomenon, underlines in broad strokes Mr. Gachon.
“We are in a situation where the climate is warming up with a speed and magnitude that we did not anticipate a few years ago,” he worries.