Quebec Tornadoes: Live Updates, Warnings, and Essential Safety Tips
Tornadoes in Quebec are more common than many people realize, especially in the southern part of the province. With tornado season stretching from April to September, residents must be ready for sudden weather shifts that can turn dangerous quickly with little to no warning.
Knowing how to prepare, where to shelter, and how to stay connected when the power goes out is critical for safety. This guide offers resources for staying informed with real-time updates, emergency planning steps, and essential tools to help you and your family stay safe when a tornado hits.
When Is Tornado Season in Quebec?
Quebec experiences tornadoes every year, with a season that runs from April through September. The activity peaks in the summer months, typically associated with severe thunderstorms. While they occur at higher frequencies in the southern half of the province, the north is not immune to tornadoes and experiences a similar season in spring and summer.
How To Stay Updated on Quebec Tornado Warnings
Listen to your local commercial radio or television channels.
Sign up for Alert Ready on your phone.
Install the WeatherCAN app on your phone, which is available for Android and iOS users.
Check the government of Canada’s weather.gc.ca website for Canada-wide weather alerts you can view on their interactive map.
Install a weather app on your phone.
If the power goes out, use your EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus portable power station to keep your phone or internet connected.
How To Prepare for a Tornado in Quebec
The best defence against tornadoes is to take action now to prepare for emergencies before one strikes.
Identify Safe Rooms or Tornado Shelters
The first thing to do is locate the nearest safe room or storm shelter. Basements, cellars, and interior rooms with cement walls are ideal. Mobile homes are never safe and must be evacuated; seek a nearby sturdy building or the lowest point in the landscape.
You must locate a safe refuge at home, work, school, and other locations where you and your family spend a lot of time. A typical tornado warning only gives you about 10 minutes to find safety, and you should never drive during tornadoes, as this puts you at higher risk. This is why identifying safe areas ahead of time is essential for safety.
Watch For Warning Signs
Tornadoes strike with little to no warning, so learn to watch for the signs of a developing tornado. If you see these signs, do not wait for an alert; seek safe shelter immediately:
Dark skies, even in daytime, may have a greenish hue
Dark, low, rotating, or funnel-shaped clouds
A loud roar that sounds like a freight train
Very large hail and thunderstorm activity
Approaching debris clouds
Prepare Your Emergency Kit
An emergency kit in your home will help ensure your family stays safe in severe storms and other emergencies. Keep your kit in a waterproof bin in your storm shelter, safe room, or near the door if your home must be evacuated, so you can grab it on your way out the door. Your kit should contain the following:
4 litres of water per day per person for 3 days
Non-perishable food for each person for 3 days
Food and water for your pets
Complete first aid kit
Any necessary prescription drugs
Dust masks
Emergency whistle
Soap, toilet paper, hand sanitizer
Rechargeable LED flashlights
Can opener, eating utensils
Multi-tool and duct tape
Lighter or matches in a waterproof container
Fire extinguisher
The EcoFlow RAPID Magnetic Power Bank is a compact and portable device that recharges your phone, allowing you to stay connected and informed.
Prepare a Family Emergency Plan
Your emergency plan is critical to ensure that everyone in your family knows who to contact, how to contact them, what to do if a family member isn’t home, and where your backup meeting place is if your house is unsafe. Discuss where to seek shelter, whether at home, work, or school.
Also, go over the location of the emergency kit, discuss the contents, and what to do with them, including some basic first aid. Practice a drill with your entire family at least once a year to ensure they know what to do. This is also a good time to refresh your water, food, and medical supplies and ensure flashlights and portable power devices are charged.
Purchase an Emergency Power Supply
Power outages are common when severe storms take down the power lines. Having an emergency power supply will help keep your family safe and ensure that essential appliances like refrigerators, freezers, medical equipment, routers, and computers can still run. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is perfect for emergency backup with its 4000w output that can run 120v and 240v appliances. It’s also expandable with extra batteries if you want a whole-home generator.
The EcoFlow DELTA Series Solar Generators are also the superior choice for indoor safety since they use no fossil fuels and will not cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which kills 300 people every year in Canada. They also come with solar panels so you can stay powered up even during extended blackouts, scheduled outages, and rolling blackouts.
If you have rooftop solar panels installed, you should inspect them once or twice a year to ensure their mounts and connections are secure to help prevent storm damage. If you have portable solar panels, you can set those up outside once the storm danger has passed.
What To Do When a Tornado Hits Quebec
If you have a tornado warning or see the signs of one developing, carefully follow these steps to keep you and your family safe.
As soon as you hear an emergency alert or see the warning signs of an approaching tornado, immediately seek safe shelter.
Stay indoors (unless you are in a mobile home) and never attempt to drive to a shelter.
For buildings without safe rooms, go to the lowest floor and put as many interior walls between you and the outside as possible.
Stay away from all doors, windows, and glass.
If available, climb inside an interior closet or under a sturdy desk or table.
If you’re outdoors or in your car, immediately seek the nearest sturdy building and get inside. If there is none, seek a ravine, ditch, or other low point in the landscape and climb inside, getting as low as possible.
Crouch down low and cover your head and neck with your arms.
Stay tuned to emergency alerts for updates. If you run out of power, use your EcoFlow Portable Power Stations to stay connected.
If you get trapped by debris, do not yell for help to avoid inhaling dust and damaging your lungs. Instead, use an emergency whistle if you have one or bang on pipes or other objects to make a lot of noise.
Never leave where you are unless you have a critical medical emergency. The roads and buildings may be unsafe, and emergency responders will need a clear path to help those in need. If you must leave for a medical emergency, ensure you have emergency essentials in your car in case the roads are unsafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Tornadoes Common in Quebec?
While the prairie provinces and southern Ontario have the most tornadoes, they are still relatively common in Quebec, with between 4 and 8 tornadoes occurring every year. They mostly hit southern Quebec but occasionally occur in the northern part of the province.
Is Quebec in Danger of Tornadoes?
Yes, Quebec has, on average, between 4 and 8 tornadoes every year. However, they mostly occur in southern Quebec, so those in the more populated southern parts of the province are more in danger. However, no one is immune to tornadoes, as they do occasionally strike northern Quebec.
Final Thoughts
Tornadoes in Quebec may not be as frequent as in some other provinces, but they still pose a serious risk every year, especially in the more densely populated south. From learning the warning signs, identifying safe shelter areas, preparing emergency kits, and staying informed with real-time alerts, every step you take now helps protect your family later.
Don't forget that power outages often follow severe storms, so having a reliable backup power source like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 ensures you can stay connected and informed no matter what the storm brings. Stay prepared and stay safe.