Winds cut power for 95,000 in Quebec

High winds cut power to about 95,000 Hydro-Québec customers Friday morning, while officials closed dozens of schools due to  icy road conditions.

Environment Canada issued wind warnings for Montreal, Trois-Rivières and Quebec City and reported gusts as high as 90 km/h in several regions including the Laurentians, the Lanaudière, and the Outaouais.

The hydro outages are affecting 14,000 customers in Quebec City, 3,200 in Chaudière Appalaches, 15,300 in the Laurentians, 17,500 in the Lanaudière, 5,500 in the Outaouais, and 6,600 households in Montreal and Laval. 

As of 8 p.m. Friday, 15,000 homes across the province were still without electricity.

Hydro-Québec expects the power to be restored sometime Saturday.

Most schools in the greater Quebec City region were closed, including those under the Central Quebec School Board, because of high winds and blowing snow on major highways in the area. 

Transport Quebec urged drivers to be cautious.

On Thursday, the Transport Ministry closed Highway 10 in the Eastern Townships because of high winds, blowing snow and poor visibility.