Flooding

Last updated February 13, 2020
RelatedDisaster RisksWater

What areas in Montréal are prone to flooding? What times of the year are associated with the highest risk? Find out about the risk of major floods.

Call 311 to find out if your home is located in a flood zone.

Montréal constantly monitors the water levels of the St. Lawrence River, the Rivière des Prairies, Lac Saint-Louis and Lac des Deux Montagnes, and also monitors weather forecasts during high-risk periods.

High-risk periods

Major floods usually occur:

  • In the spring when snow melts
  • During the winter, when ice forms and blocks a stream or river

Flood zones

Areas on the shores of Lac des Deux Montagnes and the Rivière des Prairies have a higher risk of floods. The risk is not as high for people living on the shores of the St. Lawrence River and Lac Saint-Louis. Real-time data (in French) is published by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de Lutte contre les changements climatiques.

Available equipment and material

    The city has a wide range of equipment that can be set up quickly in areas affected by flooding. Trucks, mechanical shovels and other equipment are also rented during at-risk periods.

    Here is an overview of equipment and material.

    • Concrete barriers (Jersey barriers)
    • MuscleWall-type protective barriers
    • Sandbags
    • Empty bags
    • Bulk sand and pebbles
    • “Citadelle” dikes (bigwhite bags)
    • Plastic sheeting
    • Submersible pumps
    • Gas pumps
    • Generators

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