In addition to meals and gifts, Quebecers should also stock up on survival gear to survive the storm that threatens the province as Christmas approaches and that could cause numerous power outages.
Here is a summary of the phenomena that you should take into account in order to plan your New Year’s Eve in the best possible way.
strong winds
Strong winds will blow across Quebec except in the far north of the province, likely causing widespread power outages. The north bank of the river, where stronger winds are expected, could be hardest hit.
“We are mobilizing our teams in advance, we have already recalled teams and staff who in some cases had planned holidays for the holidays, we make sure we have enough staff to intervene and we make sure we have all the necessary devices,” explained a Hydro-Québec representative, who expects citizens to spend Christmas Eve in the dark.
Environment Canada is already anticipating these outages and advises being prepared: “We need to anticipate it or at least be prepared because there is definitely a possibility of dealing with long-term power outages, so what we want to send out is a message to the public : Prepare a kit that will give you everything you need for at least 72 hours,” said Jean-Philippe Bégin, meteorologist at Environment Canada.
black ice
The storm is expected to begin Thursday evening for the south and west of the province. Snowfall is expected first, followed by showers for regions south of the river, including Greater Montreal and Estrie.
The return to negative temperatures from Friday at the end of the day combined with snowfall will make the roads very slippery.
“If we have precipitation in the form of snow, if we go back below 0, that’s the perfect recipe for ice rinks, both on the sidewalks and on the streets, and that’s also where we keep accumulating snow, so really difficult conditions. ‘ warned Jean-Philippe Bégin.
snow
The Outaouais, the Laurentians and the Hautes-Laurentides as well as the Mauricie, northern Quebec and Charlevoix and the Haute-Côte-Nord to Sept-Îles could receive up to 50 centimeters of snow in places.
We must therefore expect almost zero visibility, strong to violent winds and some roads that could even be closed between Charlevoix and the north coast or even the Laurentians.
tide
Eastern Quebec will also struggle with coastal flooding caused by strong winds and particularly high tides at this time.
“It’s just a random guess that makes the situation worse, even as far as Quebec we risk flooding,” warned Mr Bégin, adding that this situation should be monitored between Friday and Saturday during high tides. “The further east you go, the later it gets on Friday,” he said.
For your travels, Environment Canada advises departing with caution on the Thursday before the storm or Saturday afternoon. Friday is to be avoided anywhere on the streets. The eastern part of the province will have some respite as winds pick up Friday midday.
What to pack in your survival kit according to Environment Canada and Hydro-Quebec:
• Water
• Light: avoid candles, prefer flashlights
• First aid kit
• Cover
• Plan B, where to take refuge when you’re out of power, especially for those who need medical equipment
• Spare batteries for mobile devices to follow the development of the Info Panels application
• Medication
• Anything that can help you live at least 72 hours