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The remnants of tropical storm Debby caused flooding and interrupted business as usual in Montreal early Friday morning.
Several roads and highways were closed to traffic, local shelters were requesting assistance to deal with flooding and some outdoor activities were cancelled or postponed as heavy rainfall landed on the city.
A warning issued by Environment Canada suggested the region would receive between 80 and 120 millimetres of rain throughout the day, with higher amounts possible in some areas.
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“This rain is caused by a low pressure system interacting with the moisture associated with tropical depression Debby,” the warning reads. “Heavy downpours are likely to cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.”
Resilience Montreal, an organization that provides services to unhoused people downtown, flooded early in the morning. Its co-founder, Nakuset, was requesting assistance from volunteers to help remove water from the building as early as 7 a.m.
“Resilience serves up to 1,000 meals a day and the community relies on their services,” Nakuset said. “If you can show up and help, please do.”
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Amusement park La Ronde, meanwhile, announced it would be closed all day as a result of the rain.
Fierté Montréal announced the cancellation of its outdoor activities for the day, including a “Community Day” on Ste-Catherine St. E. and its “Soirée 100% Drag” at the Olympic Park’s Esplanade.
Both have been rescheduled to Saturday instead.
“Tropical Storm Debby won’t stop us from celebrating our pride,” the festival said in an email. “That’s why we’re working hard with the artists and producers to bring you an unforgettable day on Saturday, Aug. 10, with an even more diverse lineup and a very sunny site.”
Organizers added they would provide festivalgoers with more detail about the schedule, programming and meet and greets soon.
Southeast of Montreal, St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu’s International de montgolfières hot-air balloon festival, set to open Friday, postponed the day’s lineup to Monday.
“The remains of Hurricane Debby in Quebec will not go unnoticed and will bring their share of instability,” the festival said in an email announcing the change. Scheduled acts GÄELLE, Meghan Oak and Et c’est pas fini will perform Monday instead.
In a preliminary summary at 10 a.m., Environment Canada said the Montreal and Laval regions had received 60 to 80 millimetres of rainfall to date.
“Additional rainfall amounts are expected over the next few hours,” the agency said.
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