Friday, August 9 was a good day to be a fish, frog, or duck in Eastern Ontario or southern Québec.
Tropical Storm Debby arrived in the area early on Friday after swirling up the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, jumping the Adirondack Mountains, and making things very soggy locally.
Ditches and drains became full around Prescott-Russell and Argenteuil, creeks suddenly had water levels more associated with the spring thaw, and ponds formed in low-lying areas.
Environment Canada issued a Rainfall Warning for the entire day on Friday and South Nation Conservation issued a level orange Flood Advisory.
On Thursday, Environment Canada had forecasted 50 millimetres (two inches) to 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain for the Hawkesbury area, with possibly greater amounts in localized areas. At Cassburn Sweets maple syrup in Vankleek Hill, owner Lucie Lamoureux recorded about 95 millimetres/3.75 inches of rain had fallen into a rain gauge there as of early Friday evening.
Area residents reported flooded basements. In Grenville-sur-la-Rouge and Harrington, sections of some roads washed out.
At around 7 pm on Friday, drenching Debby made a sharp right turn and began heading east along the St. Lawrence River, returning to the coast.
