Quebec storms knock out power to tens of thousands as winds and heat compound impacts
Quebec storms left more than 130,000 Hydro-Québec customers without power at the peak, with roughly 55,000 still affected Friday morning as crews work to restore service. The Quebec storms battered Lanaudière, the Laurentides and parts of Greater Montréal late Thursday, producing damaging winds and localized destruction. Hydro-Québec and Environment Canada warned residents to avoid downed lines and to prepare for hot conditions as repairs continue.
Power outages peak and restoration progress
At the height of the outages, Hydro-Québec reported over 130,000 households without electricity across the province. By Friday morning that number had fallen to about 55,000 as restoration teams made progress through the night and into the morning.
Crews prioritized areas with the most severe damage and locations serving critical facilities while updating estimated times of restoration through their outage maps. Hydro-Québec said work will continue throughout the day until service is fully restored in all affected zones.
Lanaudière and Laurentides worst affected
The regions of Lanaudière and the Laurentides absorbed the brunt of the storm, accounting for approximately 60 percent of the households still without power on Friday morning. Local officials reported numerous fallen trees and snapped utility poles that blocked roads and delayed crews.
Municipal services in those areas mobilized chainsaw teams and road clearance crews to support Hydro-Québec technicians. The concentration of damage in these regions means several neighbourhoods may face extended outages while complex repairs are carried out.
Damage in Greater Montréal and Laval
Greater Montréal, Laval and the Montérégie experienced thousands of outages, with Laval reporting about 10,175 households without electricity on Friday morning. Storm cells swept quickly through the metropolitan area in the early evening, causing localized but intense damage.
Strong gusts exceeding 90 km/h overturned structures and tore tent canopies away in parts of the city. In L’Assomption, a large event tent was blown into the air and sustained significant damage, prompting temporary road closures and inspections by emergency services.
Hydro-Québec safety advisories and response
Hydro-Québec warned that the severe weather may have caused power lines to fall in some sectors and urged the public not to touch or approach downed wires. The utility asked residents to call 911 to secure scenes where live wires are suspected and to report outages via its usual channels.
Technicians were working under challenging conditions, including obstructed access and lingering heat, to replace hardware and re-energize lines. Hydro-Québec emphasized that crews will not re-energize lines until they are confirmed safe, which can prolong outages in heavily damaged locations.
Impacts beyond Quebec: Ontario and the Maritimes
The storm system also produced outages in neighbouring Ontario, where Hydro One reported tens of thousands of customers affected by Thursday’s storm activity. Meanwhile, the heat accompanying the system continued to challenge Ontario and portions of the Maritimes, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Environment Canada said the combination of high temperatures and humidity pushed heat indices into dangerous ranges in parts of southern Quebec and neighbouring provinces. Emergency managers advised residents to check on vulnerable neighbours and to seek cooling centres if air conditioning was unavailable.
Weather forecast and public precautions
Environment Canada reported the storm cell that swept the greater Montréal area weakened as it moved toward the South Shore, but recommended continued caution as scattered thunderstorms remained possible. Forecasters said temperatures and humidity were expected to ease beginning Saturday morning, offering some relief from the heat.
Officials urged residents to conserve power where possible as crews complete repairs and to keep refrigerators and freezers closed during outages to preserve food. Municipal emergency measures teams reminded the public to secure loose outdoor objects and to avoid driving on roads blocked by debris.
Repair operations and safety monitoring will continue through the day as utilities assess and prioritize the most critical repairs. Hydro-Québec and local municipalities said they will provide updates through their service channels and encouraged residents to follow instructions from emergency responders.
Emergency personnel continued inspections in affected neighbourhoods to identify hazards and ensure public safety. Several community centres opened as temporary shelters and cooling stations for those without power or who required assistance.
