More than 314,000 Hydro-Québec customers are currently without electricity due to severe wind gusts that began overnight, with speeds exceeding 70 km/h. The Montérégie region has been particularly hard hit, reporting over 97,000 customers affected. Other regions, including Lanaudière, Laurentides, and Montreal, have also experienced significant outages, with over 62,000, 34,000, and 22,000 customers without power, respectively.
In response to the widespread outages, Hydro-Québec has deployed over 1,100 workers throughout the province to restore service as quickly as possible. “Des équipes sont mobilisées sur le terrain partout au Québec pour rétablir le service le plus rapidement possible,” stated François Legault, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The strong winds prompted a weather warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), indicating potential damage in several sectors, including Montreal and the Côte-Nord. As the situation develops, ECCC has noted that “les vents diminueront graduellement en mi-journée,” suggesting some relief may be on the way.
Schools in various regions have been closed due to the power outages and adverse weather conditions, further complicating the situation for families and students. The impact of the outages has been felt across the province, with a peak of approximately 315,000 households affected.
As restoration efforts continue, local authorities are monitoring the situation closely. “Hydro‑Québec gère actuellement la situation alors que les fortes rafales ont déjà commencé à provoquer des pannes,” commented Jean-Boulet, indicating that the utility is actively managing the crisis.
While the situation is gradually improving, the full extent of the damage and the timeline for complete restoration remains uncertain. Paule Veilleux-Turcotte noted, “On commence déjà à en voir les effets sur la végétation et sur le réseau,” highlighting the broader implications of the storm on infrastructure.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the total damage and the expected timeline for restoring power to all affected customers. As restoration teams work diligently, residents are urged to stay informed through official channels.
