MONTREAL, April 18, 2026 – With water levels on the rise, Montreal stepped up its flood response readiness, and the sandbags are out. With water levels expected to rise to their highest point this spring, the City of Montreal says it is ready to act should the situation worsen. At a press conference near the Rivière-des-Prairies in the Bordeaux–Cartierville district, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada told reporters that everything was ready on the ground.
“The deliveries of sandbags and pumps have been made,” she said.
River water levels on the rise
As of Friday morning, the Outaouais River at Carillon was carrying 6,100 cubic metres of water — more than two Olympic-sized swimming pools — every second. The Rivière des Prairies at the Cheval Blanc rapids was flowing at 2,400 cubic metres per second. Both rivers are rising, and the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board says it expects the Outaouais River to reach 7,050 cubic metres per second by April 18.
City officials say that because of rising water levels, they are monitoring any encampments along the riverbanks to provide support if needed. An encampment with two unhoused people in Ahuntsic–Cartierville was already relocated to a safe area on March 15, according to the city.
Special weather statement issued for Sunday, more rain
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Sunday, warning that 15 to 25 millimetres of rain could fall at a time when water levels are high and the ground is saturated.
The province’s flood monitoring website said that as of 1 p.m. ET there was one medium flood, at the Ouareau river north of Montreal, as well as 20 minor floods and 19 spots under surveillance. Laval indicated that minor flooding had started, while Gatineau estimated that 33 roads and 119 buildings were at risk of flooding.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada stressed the need to remain vigilant, particularly regarding the situation “upstream,” notably in the Outaouais region, noting that water levels are expected to rise over the next few days.
“We’re going to keep an eye on runoff that could flow down and raise water levels in rivers [in the Montreal region],” the mayor said. And noted that certain roads and bridges could be closed depending on how the situation develops. For example, access to the bridge leading to Île Mercier in Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève could be restricted.
“We’ll see by Sunday whether we need to close it, but we’re not at that stage yet,” she said.
Water rescue teams are on standby to assist residents of Île Mercier, should the bridge be closed. Areas at risk of flooding include Ahuntsic–Cartierville, Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, Montréal-Nord, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Pointe-Claire, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Senneville.
by Bonnie Wurst
