More than 51,000 Quebec households remained without electricity Friday morning following a series of violent storms that moved across the province. At the peak of the weather event Thursday night, approximately 133,000 addresses were without power, according to Hydro-Québec.
Current status of power outages
Repair crews are actively working to restore service across affected regions. As of 7:30 a.m. Friday, the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions accounted for the highest number of outages, with 18,982 and 18,008 addresses affected respectively. Within Lanaudière, L’Assomption remains a primary focus for recovery efforts with 10,011 addresses still offline, while Blainville in the Laurentides reported nearly 7,000 households without power.
Did You Know? During the height of the storm on Thursday around 9:30 p.m., the number of disconnected addresses reached 133,000, more than double the count reported the following morning.
Safety warnings and storm impact
Hydro-Québec has issued a safety warning regarding downed power lines, which may have been caused by the high winds and storm activity. The utility company advises residents to maintain distance from any lines on the ground, as they may remain energized even if they appear inactive. While the storms brought intense, short-lived rainfall—such as the 22.1 mm recorded at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Thursday—the Vigilance network reported no flooding incidents.
Expert Insight: The discrepancy between the peak outage numbers and Friday morning’s figures suggests that while initial repair efforts have been successful, the widespread nature of the damage in specific regions like Lanaudière requires significant logistical coordination. Given the concurrent high temperatures, the restoration of cooling systems for affected residents remains a priority for the utility provider.
What may happen next
As repair work continues throughout the day, the number of households without power is expected to decrease as crews reach remaining damaged infrastructure. Residents in the hardest-hit regions could see staggered restoration times depending on the complexity of the repairs required at local substations or individual service lines. Further updates on restoration progress are likely to be provided via the official Hydro-Québec Info-pannes portal as utility crews clear debris and secure downed lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which regions are most affected by the power outages?
As of Friday morning, the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions are experiencing the highest volume of outages, with specific concentrations in L’Assomption and Blainville.
Is there a risk of flooding following the heavy rains?
No. According to the Vigilance flood monitoring network, the intense rainfall on Thursday did not result in any flooding.
What should I do if I see a downed power line?
Hydro-Québec warns that residents should not touch downed lines and must keep their distance, as they may remain under tension even when resting on the ground.
Are you currently experiencing power disruptions in your area, or have services been restored to your home?
