Two icebreakers have been called in to the St. Lawrence because of ice that is preventing travel in the river and its tributaries.
Ferries connecting Sorel-Tracy and St-Ignace-de-Loyola, Que., have been docked since Thursday evening because the cold and ice are making navigation difficult.
The Society of Quebec Ferries reported on its website that service is interrupted "due to severe ice conditions on the river." The service will not resume until the situation improves.
The Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaker Amundsen has been working for more than 40 hours to break up the ice on Lake St-Pierre in the St. Lawrence.
A second icebreaker, Martha L. Black, was called in on Friday as reinforcement.
Electricity in demand
Hydro-Québec is continuing to ask clients’ collaboration in reducing demand on the power grid during peak hours.
More than 38,000 megawatts of power were in use Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. ET, nearly breaking a record set last January.
Hydro-Québec said Quebecers were using nearly 37,000 megawatts on Friday morning. The company predicts electricity usage will remain at around the same level overnight.