Spring snowfall causes more than 284,000 power outages

Many Quebecers wake up under a white carpet this Thursday morning… and in the dark. A low pressure system expected to drop 15 to 25 centimeters of snow is currently sweeping the south of the province, causing numerous power outages and school closures.

Around 9:10 a.m., Hydro-Québec reported that more than 284,000 of its customers were without electricity, including 85,636 in the Laurentians and 77,371 in Montreal. This report was an improvement compared to that provided an hour earlier, when the state company reported that 300,000 of its subscribers, including 100,000 in Montreal, were in the dark.

In Montérégie, the outages affected 42,165 subscribers around 9:10 a.m., while in Outaouais, there were 25,079 who did not have access to power. Residents of Laval (21,767), Lanaudière (18,968) and Estrie (12,605) were also affected by the outages.

Consult the status of the Hydro-Québec network

“In several places, power lines are found on the ground due to strong gusts or under the weight of broken tree branches. We are mobilizing all available teams to work to restore service as quickly as possible,” indicated Hydro-Québec, which deployed nearly 1,000 workers on the ground for reconnection operations.

The state-owned company added that due to the scale of the current event, the service restoration times displayed on its site are approximate. She also asked the population not to approach electrical wires that may have fallen to the ground, stressing that in such a situation, they must call 911 so that emergency services can come and secure the scene.

“Also, absolutely must not use fuel-fired lighting or auxiliary heating devices, generators or portable stoves designed for outdoors (barbecues) inside residences. The risk of asphyxiation and intoxication is significant,” it was reiterated.

The snow that fell overnight also led to the closure of many schools, notably in Outaouais, Laval, the Laurentians and Lanaudière, as well as in Montreal and Montérégie.

In an advisory published Wednesday, Environment Canada warned that the system could leave up to 20 cm of snow by Thursday evening in Outaouais, Montreal, Montérégie, the Laurentians and Lanaudière. In Estrie, accumulations could reach 25 cm.

Consult Environment Canada’s forecasts

A first slice of 5 to 10 cm fell during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. The rest is expected to fall during the day, before the system continues its path towards the center and east of the province, as well as towards the Maritimes.

In an interview, Environment Canada meteorologist Michèle Fleury clarified on Wednesday that since temperatures are hovering around the freezing point, “it’s still going to be heavy snow, a bit like slush or slush.”

Therefore, more difficult road conditions were expected for Thursday morning’s rush hour, especially in a context where summer tires have been authorized on the roads since March 15.

Consult the state of the road network

According to M^me Fleury, even if many people would have done without this winter wink, nothing is out of normal at this time of the year.

“It’s definitely a type of storm that you can see in April, especially since it’s still the first days of April. We are still within climatic normals,” she mentioned.

In Ontario, Hydro One reported Thursday morning that more than 46,000 of its customers were facing an outage, but that its teams had already restored power to approximately 125,000 of its subscribers.