Severe Weather Alerts Issued for Southwestern Quebec and Greater Montreal Area

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a tornado alert on Monday for a large area covering parts of southwestern Quebec. This corresponds to a significant diagonal corridor, stretching from Thurso in the southwest to Lac Taureau in the northeast, just north of Saint-Jérôme. This zone includes cities along Route 117 and Highway 15 between Prévost and Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentides, as well as towns like Saint-Donat and Saint-Michel-des-Saints in Lanaudière.

Dangerous storms could also occur in the afternoon and evening for parts of Ontario, Outaouais, and the Greater Montreal Area, from Montérégie to the northern suburbs. These storms could bring very strong gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall. Such storms can sometimes also produce tornadoes.

Environment and Climate Change Canada therefore recommends seeking immediate shelter in the event of threatening weather – lightning strikes kill and injure Canadians every year, they note. Hail can damage property and cause injuries, while very strong gusts can cause damage (uprooted trees, vehicles blown off the road, etc.), and torrential rains can lead to flash floods and water accumulation on roads. In the event of a tornado in particular, they advise seeking shelter in a sturdy building, on the lowest level, and staying away from windows and exterior walls.

Environment Canada has issued a Tornado alert in the Laurentides this afternoon, but it has since been lifted. The severe thunderstorm watch is still in effect. ‘Take shelter immediately in the basement or a room without windows in the event of threatening weather. Outside, protect yourself from flying debris,’ reads the alert message. ‘At 2:09 pm, Environment Canada meteorologists are monitoring a storm possibly producing a tornado. Destructive winds, large hail, and intense rainfall in some areas are also possible. Take immediate shelter if threatening weather approaches. One or more weak intensity tornadoes could occur in the area. They sometimes appear as funnel clouds accompanied by debris swirling near the ground,’ as stated on the Environment Canada website. Throughout the Laurentides, this afternoon and evening, conditions are ripe for the formation of dangerous storms capable of producing very strong gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall.