Severe thunderstorms in southern Quebec | “I have rarely seen a sky darken like this”

With the tornado warning barely lifted, the weather raged across Greater Montreal early Thursday evening with numerous lightning strikes, high winds and torrential rains that caused large pools of water under bridges in tiering. The succession of intense weather events of the past few days is in a way set to become the new normal, and 2023 could mark a “breaking point”, says an expert.

At least two tornadoes were confirmed by Environment Canada on Thursday, one in Ottawa and the other in Mirabel, while “high winds” were reported at 90 km/h at Montreal-Trudeau airport.

The power of the storm front that swept all of southwestern Quebec before hitting the metropolis at the end of the day surprised many, including the professor of hydroclimatology at UQAM, Philippe Gachon.

“Rarely have I seen a sky darken like this, with a smokescreen and this identity. It’s happened to me in tropical places, when there are squall lines, as they’re called, coming. »

Will such episodes of intense rain be the new climatic norm for Montreal? “I hope not, but the answer is yes,” says the expert. After the historic forest fires, the very hot temperatures of the last few weeks and now the intense rains, in Quebec and Vermont, “the year 2023 has just marked a breaking point”, according to him.

The intensity of rain events is expected to increase more than the total amount of rain over longer periods, he explains. “And it is extremely worrying for our infrastructures since they are not adapted,” he underlines, pointing to the accumulation of water in many places in Montreal.

An opinion shared by retired Environment Canada meteorologist Gilles Brien, who estimates that the equivalent of 50 to 60 mm of rain would have fallen in the space of a few hours in Montreal.

“The storm passed at the speed of a train. If he had stayed there, we could have had as much rain as in Rivière-Éternité, ”he explains, referring to the showers that occurred earlier this month in the Saguenay which washed away sections of road.

Flooded streets in Montreal

The downpours have also given many headaches to motorists. Some got stuck under overpasses due to water accumulation. In the Montreal metro, no passenger could get on or off at the Square-Victoria–OACI station due to water infiltration.

“The water came up to my knees and entered the building,” describes the owner of a residential building at the intersection of Greene Avenue and Workman Street, in the Saint-Henri district, Romaean Alam. Images have circulated on social media showing people waist deep in water.

“There is a lot of damage inside and the smell is horrible”, adds the one who went there after receiving a call from his worried tenants. Despite several calls to the emergency services, which he guesses were overwhelmed, no one had yet gone to the scene.

In fact, in just a few hours, nearly a thousand 311 calls were received for sewer backups, clogged catch basins or broken tree branches, said the city’s administrative spokesperson. of Montreal, Philippe Sabourin.

However, police reported no major damage or injuries.

” I am still shocked ”

In Sorel-Tracy as well, the wind blew hard as the storm front that covered much of southwestern Quebec during the day progressed eastward.

The roof of the Ford dealership near exit 141 off Highway 30 was partially blown off. “There was a dreadful din, I’ve never been scared like that,” says Francine Gilbert, a store employee who was there when the wind hit. Customers and staff have been asked to get to safety away from windows.

“There were no injuries,” said Mr.^me Gilbert. In a split second, everything went black. I am still shocked. We don’t expect that. »

Steve Péloquin, a resident of the area who lives about 200 meters from the car dealership, says that sheet metal debris from the roof landed in the street near his house. A tree has been uprooted in his yard and tree debris litters the streets. “A lightning fell, a transformer blew, then everything started flying in my yard: the barbecue, the swing, everything went upwind,” says Mr. Péloquin.

But in Mirabel, in the heart of the main arteries of Mirabel and the Saint-Canut sector, in the Laurentians, there is essentially no damage. Other than a few traffic cones lying on the freeway, the tornado didn’t pick up much in its path, observed The Press.

125 buildings damaged

Ottawans got a taste of it Thursday, too, when a tornado touched down in Barrhaven, a neighborhood in southern Ottawa.

With one exception, only property damage is to be reported, reported The right. Indeed, only one person was injured, by debris and transported to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, said the Ottawa Paramedic Service.

According to the latest report from the authorities, 125 buildings, mostly residences, were damaged by the tornado.

” I got the fright of my life. The turmoil dragged on for about three minutes, but the shock lasts much longer than three minutes. My heart is still debating and my adrenaline is still in the mat, ”told the Right Wayne Richard, some two hours after high winds rocked accommodation on Exeter Drive.

Ottawa police said they are working to “assess the damage and assist residents.” “This incident has a wide footprint and officers and partners are working diligently to assist anyone in need of assistance.

With Patrick MacIntyre, Tristan Péloquin, Josée Lapointe and Alice Girard-Bossé, The Press