Power Outages Across Quebec
On March 11, 2026, over 102,000 households in Quebec were left without electricity due to severe freezing rain. The Montérégie region was the most affected, with more than 46,000 addresses experiencing outages.
In addition to Montérégie, approximately 14,000 households in the Outaouais region and around 12,000 households in the Laurentides region were also impacted. Nearly 18,500 addresses in Montreal faced power disruptions.
By March 12, the situation worsened, with reports indicating that more than 140,000 households across Quebec were without power due to the ongoing freezing rain. Hydro-Québec noted that Montérégie alone had over 60,000 households affected by 3 AM on March 12.
Montreal reported 25,842 customers without electricity, while the Centre-du-Québec region had 16,800 customers impacted. Additionally, over 1,170 outages were recorded in the Capitale-Nationale region.
François Legault stated, “Les équipes d’Hydro-Québec sont prêtes pour ce soir et cette nuit,” indicating that the utility’s teams were prepared for the challenging conditions ahead.
Cendrix Bouchard confirmed, “Ce sont des pannes, je peux vous le confirmer, qui sont reliées aux conditions météorologiques que l’on voit, qui s’intensifient,” emphasizing that the outages were directly linked to the worsening weather conditions.
Weather forecasts predicted between 20 to 30 millimeters of freezing rain in the affected areas, leading to significant disruptions. Hydro-Québec anticipated a higher number of outages as conditions continued to deteriorate.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the damage and the timeline for restoring power to all affected households. Residents are urged to stay updated through official channels as the situation unfolds.
