Thousands of residents in Montreal are still facing power outages on Sunday due to a prolonged polar vortex causing freezing temperatures across Quebec. By 5 p.m., more than 9,000 customers in the province were without electricity, with around 5,600 of them located in Côte Saint-Luc and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) areas on the Island of Montreal. Hydro-Québec representative Cendrix Bouchard mentioned that an equipment issue at the Hampstead substation led to the power failures in Côte Saint-Luc, while the cause in NDG was yet to be confirmed.
Bouchard stated that it was uncertain if the cold weather was directly linked to the problem and further investigations were necessary. The main focus at the moment, he emphasized, was to restore power to all affected customers gradually throughout the day. However, some households might have to wait until Monday to have their electricity back.
The City of Côte Saint-Luc informed the public on its website about the challenges faced due to extreme cold and technical limitations, which forced Hydro-Québec to restore power house by house rather than by sections, resulting in a slower process. Mayor David Tordjman expressed optimism that the situation would improve by Sunday evening. He advised residents to reduce power consumption to prevent system overload during the repair operations.
In response to the ongoing power outages, the Canadian Red Cross set up an emergency shelter at the Côte-des-Neiges community center on Saturday evening for residents from Côte Saint-Luc and NDG. This facility, along with transportation services, will be available again on Sunday night. Additionally, the Aquatic and Community Centre (ACC) in Côte Saint-Luc was opened on Sunday morning to provide a warm space for residents in need, offering warm beverages and showers.
Leslie Satenstein, a resident of Côte Saint-Luc, shared his experience of being without power since Saturday, highlighting the challenges of staying warm in his home. Satenstein visited the community center on Sunday to charge his phone and provide assistance to others by bringing a power bar for charging electronic devices. The city also conducted wellness checks to ensure the safety of residents, especially seniors who might not have access to essential information.
As the region grapples with the power outages, the looming threat of snowfall adds to the challenges. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a yellow snowfall warning for Montreal and parts of Southern Quebec, predicting 15 to 20 cm of snow. The snowfall is expected to start late Sunday evening and continue into Monday, potentially affecting the morning commute. The agency advised caution on the roads due to possible slippery conditions caused by the combination of cold temperatures and snow.