Thunderstorm, tornado watches issued in southern Quebec

Montreal is under a thunderstorm watch that warns of violent wind gusts and large hail.

Environment Canada is using phrases like “damaging winds” and “torrential rainfall” in a series of weather watches issued Thursday.

The watches covered a large portion of southern Quebec, from the Ontario border to near Quebec City, and from near Val d’Or to the border with the United States.

Thunderstorm watches were issued for the Montreal area just after 11 a.m., warning of the possibility of violent wind gusts and large hail. “Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles,” the meteorological agency warns.

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The watch was upgraded to a warning for Montreal at 8 p.m., as a storm front hit the city.

Tornado watches were issued for Gatineau, Lachute-St-Jérôme, parts of the Laurentians, the Pontiac region and Soulanges-Vaudreuil.

The tornado watches come into effect Thursday afternoon. Environment Canada advises taking these steps if a warning is issued:

In July, Environment Canada confirmed a tornado touched down near Mirabel airport, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.

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