Breaking Development
A major hydro quebec outage has left over 61,000 customers without power across Quebec due to severe freezing rain conditions. The outages were reported on March 11, 2026, with significant impacts in various regions.
Immediate Circumstances
As of 5:15 p.m., 57,932 addresses were without power, with the Lanaudière region experiencing the highest number of outages at 29,962 addresses. The Quebec City area reported 11,235 affected addresses, while the Outaouais region saw 9,541 outages. Montreal had 2,834 customers without power, and the Laurentians region reported 1,908 addresses affected.
This large-scale outage comes as Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an orange alert for freezing rain, predicting an accumulation of 20 to 30 mm. Such weather conditions can lead to significant impacts on infrastructure, including power outages and fallen tree limbs, as noted by meteorologist Ross Hull.
Official Statements and Reactions
Officials are closely monitoring the situation as the freezing rain continues to affect power distribution across the province. Residents are advised to stay updated on the status of power restoration efforts and to exercise caution during this severe weather event.