[1] The flooding occurred due to record snowfall in the area followed by its snowmelt and in combination with intense spring rains.

[3][2][4] The floods affected about 3,000 homes in Montérégie[5][6] and caused an estimated six million U.S. dollars of damage in seven counties in the northern area of Vermont.

In Quebec, the major cities affected by the flooding were Venise-en-Quebec, Noyan, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Henryville, Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, and Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois.

[2] On May 5, the Canadian Forces were requested to help evacuate residents and build dikes to try to protect areas at risk.

[11][12] The Canadian Forces worked to limit the damage caused by the worst floods to occur in the valley of the Richelieu River and on Lake Champlain over the previous 150 years.