MONTREAL, QUEBEC / Content Syndication Services / – Torrential rain flooded homes, cut power and closed roads across parts of Montreal after several lines of thunderstorms stalled over southern Quebec on Saturday. Environment Canada said 100 to 170 mm of rain fell in a few hours over Montreal’s West Island, the South Shore and the Outaouais. The agency cited flooded homes, trapped vehicles, impassable roads, small hail, power outages and major delays at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
The heaviest damage centered on Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Dollard-des-Ormeaux, where streets filled quickly and water entered basements. Montreal fire officials said crews received about 800 calls from those areas after 3 p.m. Saturday. About 300 homes flooded, according to a fire department update Sunday. Crews went door to door in some neighbourhoods and checked homes for electrical hazards.
Fire officials said about 15 people in vehicles needed boat rescues during the flooding. They said no residents required fire department help to evacuate homes. Firefighters did not pump flooded basements as a general service. They pumped only when crews needed access to electrical panels so they could shut off power safely.
Flooding hits homes and roads
Police assisted emergency crews in the West Island and closed several roads. Closures affected areas around Pierrefonds Boulevard, Fredmir Street, Anselme-Lavigne Avenue and Jacques-Bizard Boulevard. Local officials also cited flooding in Pointe-Claire and Dorval. The storm water left abandoned vehicles on flooded streets and disrupted access in several residential areas.
Hydro-Québec said about 20,000 Montreal customers lost electricity Saturday night, mostly in the West Island. By early Sunday, thousands of addresses still had no service in Montreal and Montérégie. The utility later reported a sharp drop in outages across Quebec. It said some interruptions were preventive, and crews continued work to restore service to affected customers.
Airport and South Shore disrupted
The storms also disrupted operations at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport on Saturday evening. A lightning alert ran from about 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., stopping landings and takeoffs during that period. Airport officials said 25 flights diverted because of the weather. The airport later resumed normal operations, though delays, cancellations and baggage issues continued into Sunday.
On the South Shore, Saint-Constant declared a local state of emergency Saturday night after flooding damaged homes and road infrastructure. The city lifted the emergency at about 10:40 a.m. Sunday after conditions stabilized. Local officials said most roads reopened and residents could begin removing water. Quebec Public Safety Minister Ian Lafrenière said provincial officials remained in contact with affected municipalities.