The tropical storm that’s battered parts of South Carolina and the Gulf Coast of Florida is expected to mix with a low-pressure system as it moves north, with heavy rain expected in eastern Ontario and western Quebec starting Thursday night.
Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for almost all of the region.
There are now five different warnings associated with what’s left of tropical storm Debby as of early Thursday afternoon:
- Areas surrounding Gatineau (not as far as Shawville or Gracefield) should get 80 to 120 millimetres of rain Friday and early Saturday and could stretch closer to 140 millimetres.
- Areas west of that warning should get 50 to 70 millimetres.
- Western Quebec communities north of that such as Maniwaki are only warned of “heavy downpours” with no amount attached.
- Ottawa-Gatineau and communities east of Highway 416 should get 50 to 100 millimetres of rain Thursday night and Friday.
- Parts of eastern Ontario west of that, including Brockville, Smiths Falls and Renfrew, should get 50 to 75 millimetres starting Thursday night,
There are no alerts for western Renfrew County. For example, Deep River is only expecting showers and a risk of a thunderstorm.
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 in the mix Thursday night and Friday.
No local conservation areas have issued flood watches or warnings.
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 16 C and Saturday is looking like a sunny day in the mid-20s.
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 barrels forward on its northeastern path through South Carolina.
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.