Environment Canada meteorologists were still monitoring violent thunderstorms that could cause tornadoes in certain areas of Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Outaouais on Thursday evening.
Around 8 p.m., the federal agency issued a tornado alert in the Parent sector, in Mauricie.
“This storm cell is moving eastward at nearly 50 km/h. Take shelter immediately if a threatening weather phenomenon approaches. Tornadoes are likely hidden by rain and may not be visible. “Don’t wait until you see a funnel cloud,” it said.
A severe thunderstorm warning was still in effect in the Gouin reservoir area, where Environment Canada predicted very strong gusts and hail the size of a two-dollar coin.
In the areas of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Senneterre and Val-D’or, conditions were conducive to the formation of violent thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.
Hail storm
Hailstones as large as golf balls had fallen in some places late in the afternoon.
“It started to brew. It was windy and it started to rain. It hit quite a bit, it started bouncing in the lawn,” testifies Sébastien Greffard who filmed the whole thing at his home in Rapide-Danseur, about thirty kilometers from La Sarre.
At the height of the storm, he collected 4 centimeter hailstones, as evidenced by the video he shared on social networks.
Hail the size of golf balls fell in Rapide Rapide-Danseur, about thirty kilometers from La Sarre.
FACEBOOK VIDEO CAPTURE (Sébastien Greffard)
Residents of neighboring villages also shared photos of heavy rain and hail, showing the lack of visibility on the roads in certain places.
Tornado watch in Pontiac
Violent storms were also forecast in Chibougamau as well as in Ouataouais, including Gatineau. Tornado watches were in effect in the Fort William and Rapide-des-Joachims areas of Pontiac, where gusts of up to 110 kilometers per hour and torrential rain were expected in the evening.
“Very strong gusts can damage buildings, uproot trees and sweep large vehicles off the road,” it said.
Elsewhere in the south and center of the province, we can witness an alternation of sun and clouds with seasonal temperatures, while gusts of 40 km/h could sweep through Montreal, where the humidex effect is not excluded. with a mercury of 27 degrees Celsius.
With the QMI Agency
