Watches of violent thunderstorms and torrential rain played spoilsport on Sunday, forcing the cancellation of Midsummer festivities across Quebec. This Monday, the weather forecast is rainy, but milder, offering a glimpse of hope for lovers of La Belle Province.
Even if the rain could come, for the organizers of the Quebec National Day in Montreal, there is no question of canceling the big show which is still scheduled for 8 p.m. at Maisonneuve Park.
“We invite Quebecers to come in large numbers, rain, not rain […]. It’s a meeting,” Marie-France Côté, press relations manager, confirmed by email. The traditional parade, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Rachel and Molson streets, is also being maintained.
Some were hoping for a sunny Monday, with MétéoMédia announcing that it would be “the most beautiful day of this long three-day weekend.” But Environment Canada’s latest forecasts are a little less optimistic. “It may still be tight for the activities that will take place late in the afternoon,” warns Catherine Brabant, meteorologist at Environment Canada. “But it will be much less worse [que dimanche]it’s getting better,” she emphasizes.
More specifically, Environment Canada predicts that between 10 and 25 mm of rain will fall this Monday across the province – compared to 50 to 70 mm on Sunday. The showers will not stop until “late in the afternoon”, before giving way to a rather cloudy evening.
In certain places, it is possible that “a few unlucky people could have showers or a thunderstorm” in the evening, indicates the meteorologist. In Estrie, the rain should stop a little later than in the Montreal or Quebec region.
In addition, a storm surge warning was issued for the sectors of Quebec, Lévis and Côte-de-Beaupré-L’Île d’Orléans. This Monday morning, between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., “a minor overflow [pourrait survenir] along the coast,” states the Environment Canada warning. Moderate winds induced by a depression from the Great Lakes, combined with high tides, could indeed cause coastal flooding.
At the time these lines were written, the vast majority of activities announced for this Monday were being maintained, except for the outdoor cinema activity at Joseph-H.-Maloney Park, in Gatineau.
Many cancellations on Sunday
On Sunday, severe thunderstorm watches were issued across southern and central Quebec, jeopardizing many outdoor shows planned for Midsummer’s Day.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
Rain fell in many regions of Quebec on Sunday, including Montreal.
On the Plains of Abraham, the first part of the great national holiday show, provided by the Zébulon group, was canceled due to torrential rain. “This decision was taken to ensure the safety of everyone, artists, spectators and the production team,” the organizers announced at the start of the afternoon.
Read our text on the show presented Sunday evening on the Plains of Abraham
Many other shows were canceled or postponed on Sunday across Quebec, due to the weather. As a result, the Michel Rivard concert, which was planned for the Assomption, as well as several festivities which were to take place in Joliette, Laval or Gatineau, suffered. Several municipalities have also canceled or postponed the fireworks which were to conclude the evening.
Municipalities invite the population to stay informed whether or not their activities are being maintained this Monday, on their websites and social networks.