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The tropical storm that’s battered parts of South Carolina and Gulf Coast of Florida is expected to mix with a low-pressure system, leading to heavy rain in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for almost all of the region.
There are now four different warnings associated with what’s left of tropical storm Debby as of mid-morning Friday:
Areas surrounding Gatineau (not as far as Shawville or Gracefield) should get 80 to 120 millimetres of rain by Friday night and could stretch closer to 140 millimetres.
The rest of western Quebec, except for Gatineau, should get 50 to 70 millimetres.
Ottawa-Gatineau and communities east of Highway 416 should get 50 to 100 millimetres of rain before it tapers off Friday night.
Parts of eastern Ontario west of that, including Brockville, Smiths Falls and Renfrew, should get 50 to 75 millimetres.
There are no alerts for western Renfrew County. For example, Deep River is only expecting showers and a risk of a thunderstorm.
Chance of flash flood
Flash flooding and water pooling on the road are possible, especially in low-lying areas. Environment Canada also says there’s a risk of thunderstorms.
No local conservation areas have issued flood watches or warnings.
In preparation for a flood, Environment Canada advises people to learn how to shut off their utilities and safeguard heating equipment, along with keeping sandbags and emergency kits.
In the case of a flood, don’t try to walk through the water — even if it looks shallow — and also avoid driving through it.
Rain started at the Ottawa International Airport between 4 and 5 a.m. Friday and in Kingston, between 7 and 8 a.m.
Ottawa’s Aug. 9 rainfall record is 41.4 millimetres in 1959, while the August daily record is 71.1 millimetres Aug. 11, 1887.
Friday’s high is forecasted to be 22 C in Ottawa, with humidity making it feel more like 30 at its peak. The overnight low should be around 15 C and Saturday is looking like a sunny day in the mid-20s with a slight chance of afternoon showers.
Similar storm last month
Debby first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday in Florida.
Since then the storm has been downgraded but — as of Thursday — still had maximum sustained winds of 80 km/h as it barreled northeast.
At least six people have died in Florida and Georgia in the wake of the storm.
The remnants of Hurricane Beryl also hit the Ottawa-Gatineau region about a month ago.
Source: cbc
