Over 300,000 eastern Canadians face power outage due to ice storm

Winter storm warnings issued by Environment Canada

Environment Canada issued winter storm warnings for freezing rain in Ottawa, parts of Quebec, and Ontario. The storm, which is causing snow mixed with ice pellets, is expected to continue until Monday morning in some regions.

Tree damage and flooding contribute to power outages

The primary cause of power outages is tree limbs and branches weighed down by the accumulation of freezing rain. Hydro One also warned of the potential risk of flooding in central Ontario.

Slow progress on power restoration

As of Sunday afternoon, over 350,000 customers were affected by the outage, with power expected to be restored by April 1. Alectra reported around 35,000 customers without power, primarily in Barrie, with slow progress due to icy conditions.

Orillia declares state of emergency

The city of Orillia, Ontario, declared a state of emergency due to the storm’s prolonged freezing rain. This has led to hazardous road conditions, downed trees and hydro lines, and significant damage to public and private infrastructure.

Ongoing impact on residents and infrastructure

Residents across Ontario reported road closures due to uprooted trees, and many have described hearing the sound of trees crashing as the storm continues to affect the region.