St-Jérôme Closes Viau Bridge Over Rising River Levels

Officials in St-Jérôme, Quebec, northwest of Montreal, closed the Viau Bridge over the Rivière du Nord to traffic on Wednesday night as rising water levels prompted precautionary measures against potential flooding. The city, home to more than 80,000 residents, has also begun distributing sandbags to help protect properties along the river.

The closures and distributions stem from a combination of the annual spring thaw and heavy rainfall that has saturated the region. Environment Canada reported that parts of southern Quebec received up to 40 millimetres of rain since the start of the week, with additional precipitation expected to exacerbate the situation. Forecasters predict 10 to 15 millimetres of rain today in areas from Gatineau to the Lanaudière region, followed by 15 to 30 millimetres over the weekend.

Élisabeth Émond, a spokesperson with the St-Jérôme mayor's office, said officials have already handed out more than 2,300 sandbags to residents. "The water in the Rivière du Nord is expected to continue to rise," she noted, emphasizing the proactive steps to mitigate risks.

St-Jérôme is one of several municipalities across Quebec mobilizing resources in anticipation of...