Environment Canada issued a tornado warning Thursday for southern Quebec ahead of Thursday afternoon and evening.
The regions affected are Montreal, Laval, Montérégie, Outaouais, Centre-du-Québec, Laurentides, Lanaudière and Mauricie.
In the event of a tornado or tornado warning, Environment Canada recommends going inside a building and choosing a room on the lowest level, away from windows and exterior walls. Suitable places could be a basement, bathroom, stairwell or indoor closet.
If you find yourself in a vehicle, mobile home, tent, trailer or other type of temporary shelter, it’s best to seek shelter in a sturdy building if possible, the federal agency says. As a last resort, lie on the ground in a low place and protect your head from objects that could be thrown.
Severe thunderstorms with the risk of “strong gusts, large hail and heavy rain” are also expected. Torrential rains can cause flash flooding and water accumulation on roads. “Nautical activities could prove to be dangerous due to the violent and sudden gusts that blow over bodies of water,” adds the federal agency.