The flood watch remains in effect for the Montreal region as well as wide area of the Ottawa River Valley.
Water levels are stable early Thursday morning, thanks in part to the dry weather across southern Quebec. The Ottawa River remains in moderate flood stage, with levels similar to those of 2023, but still below the devastating record-setting flooding in 2017 and 2019.
The raging Sainte-Anne Rapids under the Galipeault Bridge looking west at Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue on Tuesday evening. The water levels at this location are in moderate flood stage, sitting at 24.19 metres on Thursday morning. (Valley Weather Photo)
Stephen Balena
Lessons learned by municipalities during both those major floods are being applied in 2026, and so far those heroic efforts are holding. Pallets of sandbags and pumps have been placed in many locations from Pierrefonds to Vaudreuil. Mitigation and protective measures will remain in place for the foreseeable future according to several borough regional Mayors.
On Thursday, Vaudreuil placed a retaining barrier along Boulevard Saint Charles to protect the road and adjacent dwellings from the advancing Lake of Two Mountains. Pumps are working 24/7 in that community as well as in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue to help keep storm sewers from backing into nearby homes.
Municipalities, such as Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, are pumping water from storm sewers 24/7 to help alleviate any back flow into nearby homes.
Stephen Balena
The Lake of Two Mountains at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue was at 24.19 metres Thursday morning, in moderate flood stage, but lowering slightly. Pointe-Calumet was at 24.27 metres, minor food stage for that locations and stable.
Water levels are also stable at this point northwest of Montreal across the eastern Ontario. The forecast remains favourable for water levels, as no rain is forecast though Sunday. Cooler temperatures will also slow down melting where snow cover still exists across the northern portion of the basin.
So far in April, Montreal has has 89.1mm of rain, with Ottawa at 90.9mm.