A tornado alert was issued in the early afternoon for Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Jamésie. Environment Canada issued this warning for Thursday afternoon and evening. “We expect strong wind gusts, up to 100 [km/h], even 110 kilometers per hour. Just because it’s not related to a tornado doesn’t mean it won’t be dangerous: all strong winds can cause damage, like uprooting trees or breaking branches,” said Simon Legault, a meteorologist at Environment Canada. There could also be heavy rainfall, up to 50 millimeters of rain in a short amount of time, and hailstones 2 to 4 centimeters in diameter.
We are on alert now, it’s time to have a plan in mind, suggests Mr. Legault. He recommends monitoring alerts issued by Environment Canada on the website and the MétéoCAN app. If you have trampolines or patio kits, now is the time to secure them, he gives as an example. If a tornado alert is issued, it is crucial to seek shelter quickly. The main danger of a tornado is objects being thrown around. If you are in a mobile home or a car during a tornado, it can still be overturned, so try to get inside. Seek the safest shelter possible, explains Mr. Legault.
Shortly after 3:30 pm, a tornado alert was issued for the Rouyn-Noranda area, among others. The Rouyn-Noranda School Service Center sent a message to parents to ensure the safety of their children on the way home.
Hail in several areas
“These are golf balls, it’s quite impressive,” said Sébastien Greffard of Rapide-Danseur, as a hailstorm hit several areas. “I was looking in the lawn and wondering if they were mushrooms. Well no, they were hailstones!” he explained on the show Ça vaut le retour. Large hailstones fell in Gallichan, in Abitibi-Ouest.
Around 4:12 pm, Environment Canada indicated that its meteorologists were monitoring a severe storm possibly producing a tornado. Destructive winds, large hail, and intense rain in some areas were also possible. This is a dangerous situation that could cause fatal injuries.
In fact, meteorologist Simon Legault reported violent storms around 4:38 pm in some areas of the region, while in other areas, severe storms could occur in the late afternoon. He added that very strong winds in northern Abitibi and towards La Sarre were expected. Winds of 100 to 110 km/h are being discussed. The gusts recorded at the Rouyn-Noranda airport were around 90 km/h, he added.
Tornado alert for several areas
For Témiscamingue, there is a tornado alert in effect. There is a high risk of a tornado touching down, according to data collected by Environment Canada, emphasized Simon Legault. The tornado alert had also been issued for several other areas of the region, including Amos and Val-d’Or. In fact, the firefighters in Val-d’Or were ready to intervene if needed, explained Éric Hébert, chief of the fire safety service. “We have firefighters at the station, ready to intervene immediately. We ask people to follow the instructions and call 911 if they have any needs,” he said on the show Ça vaut le retour.