Quebec power outages hit more than 75,000 homes after severe overnight storms
Overnight storms left more than 75,000 homes without power in Quebec, with Outaouais hardest hit as Hydro-Québec works to restore service across the province.
The overnight storms that swept Quebec left more than 75,000 households without electricity, Hydro-Québec reported, as intense rain and localized severe thunderstorms caused widespread damage to the distribution network. The outage tally included major concentrations in Outaouais, Montreal and the Laurentides, underscoring the breadth of the storm’s impact on the province’s power infrastructure. Authorities and utility crews began mobilizing before dawn to assess damage and prioritize repairs.
Storms knock out electricity for tens of thousands
Hydro-Québec said the bulk of the outages were recorded in the hours after midnight, with crews responding to an unusually high volume of calls for downed lines and equipment failures. The utility reported more than 25,000 customers without power in the Outaouais region shortly after 2 a.m., making it the worst-affected area. Utility spokespeople described work concentrated on clearing debris, securing damaged poles and rerouting supply where possible.
A number of municipalities in Montreal’s metropolitan area and beyond also reported significant interruptions, driven by a combination of heavy rain, gusty winds and lightning strikes. Hydro-Québec’s early assessments pointed to localized infrastructure damage as the immediate cause for many outages rather than failures at generating stations. Restoration timelines were being set based on access, safety and the scale of repairs required.
Outaouais records the largest outage cluster
Outaouais stood out overnight with the highest single-region outage count, a figure that dwarfing other affected areas and drawing priority response from the utility. Local officials in some Outaouais municipalities reported fallen trees and flooded streets, complicating access to damaged equipment. Hydro-Québec said crews were coordinating with municipal emergency teams to clear routes and restore service safely.
Residents in the worst-hit communities were warned to expect intermittent service as repair teams worked through multiple trouble spots. The utility prioritized repairs that would restore power to the greatest number of customers quickly while scheduling targeted fixes for more complex damage. Community centres and emergency warming or cooling shelters were readied in some zones for vulnerable residents.
Hydro-Québec provides regional outage breakdown
Hydro-Québec’s early regional figures showed roughly 11,500 customers affected in Montreal and about 11,000 in the Laurentides. Other regions reported notable outages as well: Montérégie around 8,200 customers, Laval about 6,500, Lanaudière roughly 4,200, Estrie near 3,700 and Mauricie approximately 1,600. These numbers reflected situational reports shortly after 2 a.m., with totals subject to change as crews completed assessments.
The utility emphasized that restoration estimates can shift quickly when crews discover additional damage or face obstacles accessing sites. Hydro-Québec also encouraged customers to report outages through official channels, noting that multiple reports from the same location do not speed individual response but help verify the scale and location of interruptions. Automated outage maps and updates were being refreshed as new information arrived from field teams.
Restoration efforts and crew mobilization
Hydro-Québec said it had dispatched field crews across the province and would reallocate resources based on evolving damage assessments and safety conditions. Priority work included repairing main feeders and substations that would restore power to large numbers of customers at once. Line technicians and tree crews were concentrating on areas where fallen trees had damaged poles and conductors.
Safety remained central to the restoration effort, with crews instructed to avoid unsafe conditions such as live downed lines or unstable poles. Hydro-Québec also called on the public to keep clear of repair sites and to report dangerous situations immediately. Coordination with municipal public works and emergency services helped crews gain access and expedite repairs in areas where roads were blocked.
Warnings for rain and thunderstorms remain in place
Meteorological services maintained warnings for heavy rain and the risk of severe thunderstorms in parts of the province as the system moved through, advising residents to stay alert to updated forecasts. Officials warned that ongoing showers could hamper repair work by creating muddy or flooded conditions at outage sites and increasing safety risks. People were urged to prepare for short-term outages by keeping flashlights and charged mobile devices on hand and by checking on vulnerable neighbours.
Hydro-Québec and public agencies recommended that residents treat all downed wires as live and avoid contact with flooded basements and electrical equipment. Municipalities advised residents to secure outdoor furniture and exercise caution while driving on roads with fallen debris. Authorities said updates would be provided through municipal channels and the utility’s public advisories as conditions and repair progress warranted.
Power crews continued to work through the morning to restore service after a night of heavy rain and lightning, with Hydro-Québec updating outage maps and repair estimates as teams reported back from the field.
