By Canadian Press

Tornado warnings issued for southwestern Quebec, including Montreal Island

Jul 13, 2023 | 1:25 PM

MONTREAL — Environment Canada issued tornado warnings Thursday for much of southwestern Quebec, including the Island of Montreal.

The weather agency said meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm that could possibly produce a tornado.

It said the warnings were in effect for the Montreal area, and regions to the west and north.

Those areas could also see “damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall,” the agency said.

Environment Canada said residents in affected areas should try to shelter in a room on the lowest floor of a building if they see evidence of a tornado, such as a funnel cloud or flying debris.

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The alerts came after a tornado touched down earlier today in the Ottawa neighbourhood of Barrhaven, where the city’s fire department said firefighters were going door-to-door to check on residents and shut down gas lines. There were reports of damage to several homes in the suburb.

Earlier Thursday, Environment Canada had issued tornado “watches” for much of southern Quebec.

The agency issues watches to advise residents to prepare for a weather event, while a “warning” means “it’s time to take action and seek shelter,” explained Environment Canada meteorologist Simon Legault.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2023.

— With files from Stéphane Blais in Montreal, Que.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press