For the second weekend in a row, the Montreal and Laval area is under a severe thunderstorm alert. As the heavy rain fell on the region to start Saturday morning, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a yellow level watch for the Montreal, Laval and Vaudreuil areas. “Conditions this afternoon and evening will be conducive to the formation of dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing wind gusts of up to 90 km/h,” the warning read. “These thunderstorms, combined with the showers that were already expected, could produce locally significant rainfall amounts.” The government body says that activities on the water like boating may be hazardous “due to sudden, severe wind gusts over bodies of water.” In addition, damage to roofs, fences, trees, and non-permanent shelters is possible. The sudden gusts during Sunday night’s storm resulted in an inflatable bouncy castle being lifted off the ground, killing a three-year-old girl and injuring several other children. Power outages are also possible. Last week, over 75,000 Hydro-Quebec clients were left in the dark when their power was lost during the storm. “When thunder roars, go indoors! Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year,” the ECCC says.
