Thunderstorm to strike Montreal around 3 p.m., Environment Canada warns

Montreal Gazette

3 days ago

Thunderstorms are expected to sweep through Montreal around 3 p.m. Thursday, bringing intense downpours, strong winds and the risk of flash flooding.
According to Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder, storms currently tracking near Ottawa are moving quickly and could begin affecting the Montreal area 'slightly before 3 p.m.'
The agency had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the region earlier in the day, but conditions have since evolved.
'We're seeing storms on the doorstep,' Flisfeder said. 'They'll be crossing the island fairly quickly — likely no more than 30 minutes to an hour in any one area — but the rainfall could be torrential.'
Flisfeder said rainfall rates could reach 30 to 50 millimetres per hour, though not all areas will receive the same amount.
With ground still saturated from Sunday's record storm, which flooded streets and basements across the city, there is a heightened risk of flash flooding
It comes just four days after a storm system flooded parts of the city with up to 100 mm of rain, leaving streets and basements underwater from Ahuntsic-Cartierville to St-Léonard. There is also an ongoing heat warning.
Thursday's storm watch, issued at 6:07 a.m., notes that weather conditions 'are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy downpours today.'
It also raises the risk of flash flooding and warns that nautical activities could be rendered dangerous by 'sudden, severe wind gusts over bodies of water.'
The federal agency notes also that power outages could occur during storm activity.
The ongoing heat warning — in effect for much of this week — notes that while 'temperatures won't rise above 30 degrees Celsius today, humidex values will remain high at around 35.'
Temperatures are expected to 'drop markedly' on Thursday evening, the agency said.
Sunday's rainfall saw up 100 mm fall on the Montreal area as stretches of local highways, city streets and basements were flash flooded by the surge of precipitation and power was knocked out to thousands of households.
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