Major damage occurred from the 5.0 quake close to the epicentre in Gracefield, Quebec including this bridge. SQ and Transport Quebec officials are in the photo.
Lots of excitement occurred across Ontario, Quebec and northern New York today as a 5.0 magnitude quake occurred just north of Ottawa. Several small communities in the Gatineau and Maniwaki regions reported damage including the collapse of a small bridge in Gracefield, Quebec. Other damage in that community included a partial collapse of a church and damage to the town hall. Elsewhere both passenger and freight train service was stopped so that tracks could be inspected in the Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa corridor. Some minor power outages were also reported, and firefighters were kept busy answering alarms. Rail service slowly returned to normal during the afternoon rush hour. Thousands of workers evacuated high rise office towers in Toronto and Ottawa but returned to work within an hour.
I was on lunch parked outside at a Loblaws on the West Island of Montreal. It felt as if someone had jumped on my back bumper, or a gust of wind had pushed the car. I did not think much about it until my daughter called a few minutes later to ask what had just happened. She lives 2 hours west of Montreal, so I figured we could rule out a gust of wind!
Severe thunderstorms
Speaking of wind, heavy thunderstorms in Ontario tonight have spawned a likely tornado near Midland, Ontario on the Lake Huron shoreline. Major damage has been reported and a tornado warning is now posted east of there for the Barrie region. Those storms should weaken shortly. Meanwhile a tornado watch is out for Windsor and Essex County in extreme southwest Ontario. Storms are moving in from Michigan and could produce heavy rain, hail and possibly tornadoes. Thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected in Montreal overnight tonight as that low pressure area moves eastward.
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