Ice Storm Knocks Out Power to 90,000 in Ontario, More Outages Expected
Approximately 90,000 residents across Ontario are without electricity this Saturday as a powerful ice storm sweeps through the province, according to the utility provider.
The outages are concentrated in central and eastern Ontario, where freezing rain has caused tree limbs and branches to snap and fall onto power lines, said Hydro One spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa.
Some remote regions accessible only by water may remain without power for over 24 hours, she added. Crews will need to reach those areas by helicopter or boat, but cannot do so safely until the storm passes. Communities potentially affected include parts of Parry Sound and Huntsville.
Hydro One crews are working around the clock to restore power, the company said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), urging the public to “stay safe, stay back from downed lines.”
Environment Canada reported that freezing rain began falling in parts of southern Ontario early Saturday, with Toronto expected to see icy conditions begin later in the evening.
Communities experiencing early freezing rain include Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket, Georgina, northern York Region, Uxbridge, Beaverton, Pickering, Oshawa, Durham Region, Barrie, Collingwood, and Hillsdale.
According to Environment Canada, these areas could see ice accumulations of 5 to 10 mm. The agency warned that freezing rain may transition to rain as temperatures hover near zero but will persist longer in higher elevations where it’s colder.
The storm is expected to taper off by midday Sunday.
Officials are advising residents to avoid non-essential travel until conditions improve. Tree branches may continue to fall under the weight of the ice, and roads, sidewalks, and highways could become extremely slippery and dangerous.
