More rain expected across southern Quebec

The City of Montreal is using snow clearing equipment to help push flood water back into Rivieres-des-Prairies. (West Island Flood Volunteers Photo courtesy of Doug Liberman).

The flood watch remains in effect for metro Montreal and the Ottawa Valley.

West Island Flood Volunteers need you - click here.

As volunteers and emergency personnel continue the effort of filling sandbags, building dikes and saving homes, more rain is falling across the swollen Ottawa River. Since late last evening, another 8mm of rain has fallen on Île Perrot, with more northwest of Montreal. The runoff, combined with melting snow and ice, continues to raise water levels along the Ottawa River and into Lake of Two Mountains. Water levels in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, were at 24.28 metres this morning, expected to rise to 24.36 metres by Thursday. The water spilling through the Carillon Hydro Station on the Ontario border is at 7700m3/second and forecast to rise to 8050m3/second by Thursday. For comparison, the mean flow is 2000m3/second. The current forecast has the water cresting by Thursday, but that is very dependent on the upcoming rain expected.

Flooding is also occurring in other parts of the province including across the Beauce region, and Gatineau, shown above. (Canadian Press Photo)

Volunteers continue to do amazing work in Laval, Île Bizard, Pierrefonds and Île Perrot among other regions. Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School has become sandbag central, with tons and tons of sand being scooped into bags and loaded onto trucks. The West Island Flood Volunteers continue to monitor the event, offering help and hope to homeowners. Volunteers are still needed. Visit their Facebook page for complete information or contact your municipality. The Canadian Armed Forces are also on the ground in Quebec, focusing their efforts at this time in Laval, Riguad and Gatineau.

Across the province, major flooding continues to occur south of Quebec City in the Beauce region as well as along the Ottawa River in Riguad and Pointe-Frotune. According to Urgence Quebec, over 1400 people have been evacuated province-wide, with 2900 homes flooded so far. Many more homes are isolated as roads become impassable by flooding.

The rain with our current system is almost over. Just some drizzle remains for Montreal on Wednesday. The weather will be breezy and rather chilly. High pressure builds into southern Quebec for Thursday, with a sunny day expected and normal temperatures around 14C (56F). Unfortunately, the dry weather will not last. Low pressure and a cold front will move across Ontario and Quebec Friday, with another 15 to 20mm of rain possible. The rain will be accompanied by gusty winds and dropping temperatures. Some parts of Quebec may even see snow late Friday. The weekend at this time looks cloudy and cool with showers.

Flooding will continue to be a threat across the entire region. Residents in the flood zone will need to remain vigilant well into next week.