Wind gusts and thunderstorms could cause power outages, Hydro-Québec warns
More than a dozen regions of southern Quebec under severe thunderstorm watch
Hydro-Québec says Wednesday afternoon's wild weather, strong wind gusts and a potential for severe thunderstorms, could lead to power outages in certain sectors of the province.
The public electrical utility is warning residents to be prepared and is directing people to its website for tips on how to get ready for power outages.
Those tips include having a battery-powered radio on hand to monitor the situation in case of a widespread power outage, putting together an emergency kit and having a flashlight ready rather than candles, which are a fire hazard.
Hydro-Québec also has an app to track outages and receive notifications to stay up to date.
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—@hydro_customerEnvironment Canada has put much of the province under a severe thunderstorm watch, with more than dozen sectors included in the alert. Regions like Montreal, Quebec City, the Eastern Townships and Charlevoix are on the list.
"Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles," the agency says on its website, encouraging people to stay inside if they hear thunder.
"Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year."