Severe thunderstorm watches were issued Sunday across southern and central Quebec, jeopardizing many outdoor shows planned for Midsummer’s Day.
Among them, the big national holiday show planned on the Plains of Abraham, the first part of which provided by the Zébulon group was canceled “due to heavy rain”.
“This decision was taken to ensure the safety of everyone, including artists, spectators and the production team,” the organizers announced early in the afternoon.
They maintain that the rest of the show will begin as scheduled at 9 p.m.
“Umbrellas will exceptionally be allowed on the site. Put on your raincoat and your pride in your heart and come in large numbers, it will be a memorable evening,” they added.
Around 8 p.m., an hour before the main show was scheduled to begin, the Plains of Abraham were almost deserted, as bad weather had scared away revelers.
The public is invited to follow developments in the situation on social networks.
At L’Assomption, the Michel Rivard show planned for the evening was canceled due to the risk of storms.
Between 50 and 70 millimeters of rain are expected by Monday in most regions of Quebec, according to Environment Canada.
“Torrential rains can cause flash floods and accumulation of water on roads,” warns the weather agency.
PHOTO MARIKA VACHON, THE PRESS
Between 50 and 70 millimeters of rain are expected by Monday, according to Environment Canada.
No luck: precipitation is expected to continue throughout the day on Monday. However, they should ease during the afternoon.
“The uncertainty is knowing what time it will end. It’s not hopeless that the end of the afternoon will be drier,” says Catherine Brabant, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
La Ronde has already announced that it will close its amusement park on Sunday due to bad weather conditions. It should reopen its doors on the occasion of the national holiday on Monday.
Customers who purchased their tickets in advance will be able to reuse them any day during the summer season, management said in a Facebook post.
With the collaboration of Alexandre Vigneault, The Press
Other festivities canceled due to weather
- Montreal North : festivities at Aimé-Léonard Park – Activities canceled during the day. The Brigitte Boisjoli (8:30 p.m.) and drone (10 p.m.) shows are, however, going on.
- Laval : festivities in Laval-Ouest postponed, festivities in Sainte-Dorothée and Duvernay canceled. However, the organizers assure that the big concert at the Nature Center will indeed take place.
- The Assumption : concert by Michel Rivard, on Place Karl-Tremblay at 9 p.m. – Canceled
- Saint-Jérôme : Salebarbes, at Jacques-Locas Park at 8:30 p.m. – First part with Sandra Contour and Blondes Naturelles canceled
- Joliette : drone show and shows by Barbe Rousse, Jonas Tomalty and his guests, Yvan Pedneault and Rafaëlle Roy, on Place Bourget – Canceled
- Sorel-Tracy : Jérôme 50, Les Chats Noirs, Eric Speed and Sylvain Guimond, at the Colisée Cardin in Regard-sur-le-Fleuve Park at 6:30 p.m. – Show moved
- Saint-Eustache : festivities at the Globensky Manor Gardens and fireworks on rue Saint-Eustache – Activities canceled during the day, but shows and fireworks maintained in the evening
- Lorraine : festivities planned at Lorraine Park – Canceled
- Gatineau : L’Estacade event at Gilles-Maisonneuve Park – Canceled
- Saint Basil the Great : musical show canceled, fireworks postponed, family activities maintained at the Jean-Rougeau arena, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Beloeil : the festivities planned in Vieux-Beloeil, including fireworks on the Richelieu River, are canceled. However, the city ensures that the activities planned for June 24 from 1 p.m. at Petit-Rapide park are maintained.
- Sainte-Hélène-de-Kamouraska : the festivities, which were to take place at Adélard-Lapointe Park, will take place at the municipal hall
- Saint Joseph of the Lake : festivities canceled, fireworks maintained at Paul-Yvon-Lauzon Park at 10 p.m.
- Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly : fireworks postponed, music group maintained
- Yamachiche : festivities at Achille-Trahan Park – Canceled
- Val-Morin : festivities canceled
- Holy Angels : festivities at Parc de la Caisse – Canceled
- Pointe-Calumet : Alphonse-Gravel park festivities – Postponed