Ontario and Quebec communities continue sandbagging as forecast calls for rain

Residents in the Ottawa-Gatineau region are building sandbag walls with hopes to minimize flooding in their homes. Natalie van Rooy reports.

Rain forecasts for parts of Ontario and Quebec are heightening the sense of urgency for residents with flood-prone properties, as communities deal with washouts and closed bridges and help people prepare by opening sandbag-filling stations.

Most Environment Canada warnings, watches, and special weather statements have been lifted after calling for precipitation between 10 and 25 millimetres for a region stretching from south of Quebec City to Lake Ontario. There is still a yellow storm surge warning in effect for the Quebec City area.

The Township of Minden Hills in Haliburton County said a state of emergency remains in effect and that bridges in Minden Hills across the Gull River will stay closed until further notice. However, an update posted on Saturday said a washout affecting access for emergency vehicles has been repaired.

The township says the province has arranged for Global Medic, a disaster relief charity, and the Ontario Corps to fill sandbags in the community.

A flood watch had been issued for the shoreline of Lake Nipissing, but the City of North Bay has yet to provide an update on the current state.

Flood warnings have been in effect from Sault Ste. Marie to Peterborough, while in Quebec, officials in Montreal said Friday that water levels on the Outaouais and des Prairies rivers were rising and may spill their banks in the coming days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2026.

The Canadian Press