A warning aimed at stopping the spread of illness hangs in the emergency room in Belleville General Hospital in Belleville, Ont., Dec. 11, 2012. (Luke Hendry/QMI Agency)

An early-season flu outbreak in Quebec has some hospitals across the province reporting capacity rates of over 200%.

Lachute Hospital in Lachute, Que., about 80 km northwest of Montreal, told QMI Agency Friday that it was operating at 250% capacity.

Eleven hospitals on Friday reported operating at capacities between 180% and 250%.

"It's not pretty," said Julie Boucher, director for the province's health ministry for Quebec's Laurentians region.

"It's been a long time since I've seen (emergency rooms) this busy."

Boucher said she expects the flu outbreak to peak Saturday.