Roofs torn off, possible tornado: Severe thunderstorms hit Quebec hard

Severe thunderstorms struck Thursday evening, causing nearly 50,000 power outages and downed trees in the Upper Laurentians

Heat and humidity provided plenty of fuel for the thunderstorms that struck strongly late Thursday afternoon.

PHOTOS: Large hail and 'serious winds' batter parts of Ontario, Quebec

At the height of the storm, nearly 50,000 power outages were reported, with more than half in the Outaouais region. In the Ferme-Neuve area, the roof of a garage was reportedly torn off.

524365691 794730939871062 8087213003067594267 n

Photo courtesy: Melissa Pelletier

In the Ferme-Neuve area, north of Mont-Laurier, a particularly powerful storm cell hit, destroying trees and producing large hailstones.

While exact measurements are unavailable, this type of tree damage is typically caused by winds of at least 90 km/h. There are also reports of a possible tornado in Chute-Saint-Philippe.

Stefan Bédard à Ferme-Neuve

Photo courtesy: Stefan Bédard

Content continues below

Heavy rain, strong wind gusts, and hailstones ranging in size from a nickel to a loonie were among the hazards to watch for during this stormy day.

DON'T MISS: From nuisance to nightmare: Huge hail is an extreme danger

515023926 10235109803138571 9210962055518306120 n

Photo courtesy: Jean-Philippe Thisdale

This article was translated from MétéoMédia, The Weather Network’s Quebec-based sister station.

Thumbnail image courtesy: Annie Claude - Ferme-Neuve, Quebec