Winds reach 100km/h

Police direct traffic in downtown Montreal today after winds cut power in several areas. SB Pic

Sporadic power outages totaling nearly 61,000 customers (CBC.ca) in the province of Quebec and several downed trees and power lines have been reported in the wake of strong southerly winds today. The winds developed near daybreak this morning and are beginning to taper off this afternoon. They developed in advance of a sharp cold front moving into the region. Gusts were recorded at 90km/h in South Shore St. Hubert, and reached nearly 100km/h in some portions of the Quebec City region. Elsewhere they remained below warning criteria with gusts to 60km/h reported on the Island of Montreal. Gusts in the St. Lawrence Valley of Ontario reached 60km/h. South of the region in New York it was much the same with the Champlain Valley recording winds in excess of 50mph. Plattsburg, NY had a peak gust of 43mph so far.

The biggest impact of the windstorm was the closure of Highway 10 near St Jean in the Richelieu Valley. The winds toppled three tractor trailers into the ditch. While traffic was a mess and the clean up time consuming, no injuries were reported. Fire crews on and off the island have been responding to several downed trees and dangling power lines.

From CBC.ca a truck lies on its side east of Montreal on Highway 10.