Three tornadoes likely hit Quebec, uprooting trees and damaging infrastructure

MONTREAL – Environment Canada says at least one tornado is confirmed to have hit Quebec on Wednesday night and it appears two others also touched down on the province earlier in the day.

A tornado formed on Montreal’s South Shore just before 8:15 p.m. and uprooted trees, overturned a semi-trailer truck and damaged other infrastructure, the weather agency said. Tornadoes likely also hit St-Hippolyte, Que., in the Laurentians region, and Portneuf, Que., west of Quebec City.

Mélanie Mercille, spokesperson for police in Longueuil, Que., on Montreal’s South Shore, says the driver of the semi-trailer that overturned suffered minor injuries. There were no other reports of injuries, she added.

More than 3,500 households lost power on the South Shore late Wednesday, but electricity was almost fully restored by the following morning.

Earlier in the day, around 4 p.m., a tornado likely hit St-Hippolyte, uprooting trees and damaging infrastructure, Environment Canada said, adding that two-centimetre hail also fell on the area.

“It is presumed there has also been a tornado in the Laurentians in the corridor between Lakefield, Que., and St-Hippolyte, and there was significant damage in St-Hippolyte,” Environment Canada meteorologist Michèle Fleury said.

On its Facebook page, the municipality of St-Hippolyte asked residents to stay vigilant outdoors as Hydro-Québec workers remove trees and branches that fell on power cables.

As well, a third tornado appears to have touched down in Portneuf, Que., outside Quebec City, causing significant damage to a farm.

Environment Canada had originally issued a tornado warning for the area around the Laurentians towns of Lachute and St-Jérôme. Fleury says she was not expecting to see a tornado appear on Montreal’s South Shore, where there was a risk of tornado but where storm activity was less visible on radar.

“It took us a little bit by surprise but we did, however, forecast severe thunderstorms,” she said.

Heavy rain on Wednesday fell on other regions of Quebec, including Montreal, Lanaudière and Montérégie.

Feature image: Debris is seen Thursday, July 25, 2024 in Brossard, Quebec after a tornado touched down causing minor damage last night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz