Rain and record warm weather sent several Quebec rivers spilling over their banks on Monday, leading to cancelled classes, road closures and evacuations in some parts of the province.
Municipal officials in Drummondville, Que., partway between Montreal and Quebec City, asked residents in flood zones to evacuate because of the rising St-François river, which was moving about five times its average speed.
“Faced with the continued rise in the waters of the St-François river, the Drummondville municipal civil security organization is asking all citizens living in flood zones to evacuate immediately, if they have not already done so,” the municipality said on its Facebook page.
Photos posted online by the municipality show a red car half submerged in water, and barricaded roads.
In Beauceville, Que., south of Quebec City, officials cancelled classes and opened an evacuation centre at the local arena after an ice jam caused the Chaudière river to surge into nearby streets. Several evacuations had taken place by 11 a.m., the city said on its website without giving details.
The Quebec government reported medium flooding at three of its water monitoring stations as of 1 p.m., as well as four instances of minor flooding and said 13 spots were under surveillance.
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Environment Canada says several parts of the province recorded record-high temperatures on Sunday, including 20.1 C in Beauceville and 16.4 C in Montreal.
Transport Quebec’s traffic monitoring site listed flood-related road closures in the Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie and Laurentides-Lanaudière regions. The site noted that warm temperatures and rain across the province promote “rapid melting of the snowpack and the accumulation of water on the road network,” and warned of a risk of hydroplaning.
Several other municipalities said Monday they were monitoring the rising water and preparing to take action if necessary.
In Yamaska, northeast of Montreal, municipal officials said hovercrafts were out on Lac St-Pierre and the Yamaska river to clear a path for water to flow, after ice jams left several residents isolated.
Officials in Weedon, Que., 155 kilometres south of Quebec City, urged residents to prepare for the possibility of flooding by moving their goods to higher spots in their homes, and bringing in outdoor items that could float away. The town said residents should also pack a bag of essentials and ensure vehicles are in easy-to-access locations if they need to leave their homes.
