Power Outages Across Quebec
On March 11, 2026, Hydro-Québec reported that over 102,000 households were without electricity due to severe freezing rain affecting the region.
The Montérégie region was the hardest hit, with more than 46,000 addresses experiencing outages. Additionally, approximately 14,000 households in the Outaouais region and around 12,000 households in the Laurentides region were also affected.
In Montreal, nearly 18,500 addresses lost power. By the morning of March 12, 2026, the situation worsened, with reports indicating that more than 140,000 households were without electricity across Quebec.
By 3 AM on March 12, the Montérégie region alone had over 60,000 households without power. In Montreal, the number of customers affected rose to 25,842, while Centre-du-Québec reported 16,800 customers impacted.
Hydro-Québec also noted that over 1,170 outages were recorded in the Capitale-Nationale region. The freezing rain event was anticipated to cause significant disruptions, with meteorologists predicting between 20 to 30 millimeters of freezing rain in affected areas.
François Legault stated, “Les équipes d’Hydro-Québec sont prêtes pour ce soir et cette nuit,” indicating that the teams were prepared for ongoing challenges. Cendrix Bouchard confirmed, “Ce sont des pannes, je peux vous le confirmer, qui sont reliées aux conditions météorologiques que l’on voit, qui s’intensifient,” emphasizing the weather’s role in the outages.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the damage and the timeline for restoration of power. Observers expect that the number of outages may continue to rise as weather conditions worsen.
