On June 20, 2026, heavy torrential rain led to significant flooding across southern Quebec, particularly impacting Montreal's West Island and communities south of the city. Environment Canada reported that certain areas experienced up to 150 millimeters of rain within just a few hours, and additional precipitation was anticipated on June 21. This influx of water raised concerns about further flooding, as the ground in these areas may struggle to absorb any more rainfall.
In the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and the city of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Montreal firefighters were deployed to assist residents affected by the flooding Saturday evening. The fire department indicated that although the situation had stabilized by late Saturday, crews were still conducting door-to-door checks in the most impacted neighborhoods to ensure that all residences were safe. Spokesperson Martin Guilbault emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of residents.
Dimitrios Beis, the mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, reported that "hundreds of homes" had been inundated since the storm began. In response to the disaster, the borough opened a temporary shelter at the Pierrefonds arena and mobilized volunteers to aid vulnerable residents in salvaging belongings from their homes. Meanwhile, Errol Johnson, the deputy mayor of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, characterized the situation as "very difficult."
To aid in the flooding response, Montreal police closed several roads in the West Island, including parts of Boulevard Pierrefonds and Boulevard Jacques-Bizard. The severe weather not only affected local roads but also led to substantial power outages. Hydro-Québec reported around 7,200 households without electricity by Sunday morning, a drop from approximately 20,000 outages the previous night. Most of these power cuts were concentrated in Pierrefonds and Dollard-des-Ormeaux, with an additional 2,200 outages noted in the Montérégie region, which includes the municipalities of Mercier and Rigaud.
In conjunction with the flooding, Montreal-Trudeau International Airport experienced disruptions to flights and ground operations due to the storm. Passengers were advised via social media to check the status of their flights ahead of time. Some travelers reported being stranded at the airport for over 16 hours due to delays and cancellations. Air Canada projected that flight disruptions would continue throughout Sunday, with multiple flights based on the airport's website being cancelled or rescheduled.
On Montreal's South Shore, the city of Saint-Constant declared a local state of emergency late Saturday as flooding caused damage to residential properties and road infrastructure. In response, residents were advised to limit their water usage to avoid sewer backups. By Sunday morning, however, city officials noted that conditions had stabilized, allowing the local state of emergency to be lifted. Most roads were reopened, and residents were able to continue water removal activities without the concern of sewer backflow, indicating a return to normalcy.
Throughout the ordeal, Quebec's Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière remained vigilant and in contact with municipal officials regarding the unfolding situation.
