‘Worrisome’: Water levels significantly rise in Saint-Jérôme, as parts of Quebec under flood watch

Spring thawing is causing some Quebec rivers to significantly rise, like the Rivière du Nord in Saint-Jérôme, about 45 kilometres north of Montreal.

On Tuesday, the tide was high and the current strong.

“Every year during spring, it’s a surprise, we never know the level in which the river will rise,” says Véronique Bouchard, living on the banks of the river on Laviolette street in Saint-Jérôme.

“We know, as residents, that there’s risks involved with living along the water, that every year there’s a risk of flooding,” she said.

Véronique Bouchard, resident of Saint-Jérôme. (Credit: Alyssia Rubertucci/CityNews image)

“For me it only happened one year that water came so high up to street level,” she added. “It’s not too worrisome for me because my house was built by a firefighter and he took precautions for floods, but my neighbours, they’re more at risk.”

Quebec’s Public Security Ministry reported one major flood in Quebec, in Saint-Jérôme. The City had issued a warning Monday evening, asking residents in several parts of the community near the river to stay tuned for further instructions.

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“Of course every spring we worry and I know it’s a lot of stress for many Quebecers this flooding situation,” said Quebec Premier François Legault. “We know already unfortunately that we have four or five regions where we already have some flooding, so I want to tell the population, first, I understand they’re worried, but second, the public security is following and will help them.”

#WATCH: The Rivière du Nord, in St-Jérôme 45km north of Montreal, is one of many seeing significant rises in water levels because of the snowmelt. Areas across Quebec are on high alert for potential flooding.

READ: https://t.co/NZvkdkvps8 pic.twitter.com/I6pvnNAGvI

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) April 18, 2023

Water levels in the region seemed to have reached their peak and are starting to recede.

“It’s like this almost every spring but this year a little bit more,” said Véronique’s mother, France, who lives just a few doors down. “I saw near one of the bridges, the water is really high, more than usual.”

France has a sump pump working to keep water at bay.

“It’s worrisome, yesterday night when I went to sleep, I was thinking the water levels are too high,” she said. “I can hear the sump pump as I’m in bed and I live alone, so it’s even more worrisome.”

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Véronique says the sump pump works full-time and she checks on it around two to three times a day.

“We prefer to install a second sump pump, just out of precaution,” she said.

Some sleepless nights may possibly be in store for France, as more rain is forecasted for the weekend.

“If we do have more rain, we don’t know what will happen,” she said. “It’s a surprise for everyone, I hope it’ll be okay.”