Flash flooding swamps West Island and South Shore
Torrential rainfall from thunderstorms Saturday left roads underwater and damaged homes across Pierrefonds, La Prairie, and Saint-Constant.
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Flash flooding swept across Montréal's West Island and South Shore on Saturday, June 20, after a series of strong thunderstorms dumped more than 100 millimetres of rain in some areas.
Environment Canada issued an orange weather warning for the West Island as rainfall totals climbed through the afternoon. The storms moved southeast across Laval, Pierrefonds, Dorval, and central Montréal before reaching the South Shore, bringing widespread lightning, torrential rainfall, and occasional hail.
Municipal crews were deployed to assist residents. "Teams are on the ground, we're trying to help as best as we can," said Jim Beis, mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.
Flash flooding was reported in several communities, including Pierrefonds, La Prairie, and Saint-Constant. Some homes in the West Island took on water, while numerous roads were inundated or experienced significant water accumulation. Photos from Pierrefonds showed cars fully submerged in floodwaters.
Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings remained in effect for parts of southwestern Quebec, including the Montréal region, through Saturday evening. Conditions were expected to improve later that night.