Tens of thousands of Ontarians are without power as an intense ice storm sweeps across the province, causing hazardous conditions and widespread outages.
Hydro One’s outage map indicates approximately 35,000 customers are in the dark, with disruptions concentrated in cottage country, including Tobermory, Parry Sound, and Peterborough. Crews are actively working to restore power across central and eastern Ontario amid ongoing freezing rain.
“Stay safe, stay back from downed lines,” Hydro One cautioned in a post on X on Saturday.
Freezing rain began early Saturday across southern Ontario, with Toronto expected to experience icy conditions starting Saturday night, according to Environment Canada. The federal weather agency reported that Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket, Georgina, northern York Region, Uxbridge, Beaverton, Pickering, Oshawa, Durham Region, Barrie, Collingwood, and Hillsdale saw freezing rain from the early morning hours.
Affected areas are forecasted to see ice buildup between five to 10 mm. While freezing rain may transition to rain as temperatures hover around zero, higher terrain areas will likely experience prolonged icy conditions.
“Freezing rain is expected to end for all areas by midday Sunday,” Environment Canada stated in its warning.
Warnings Issued as Ice Storm Intensifies
Authorities advise postponing non-essential travel due to treacherous road conditions, with tree branches at risk of breaking under ice accumulation. Highways, roads, and sidewalks will become dangerously slippery, posing significant hazards to commuters.
Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton are expected to see ice accumulation between three to five millimeters, with possible power outages and hazardous surfaces.
Further north in Orillia, Lagoon City, and Washago, ice buildup could reach 10 to 20 mm, with localized areas exceeding 25 mm. The storm, which began Saturday morning, is projected to continue into Sunday afternoon, bringing extensive power disruptions and dangerous conditions.
In Barrie, Collingwood, and Hillsdale, a rainfall warning is in effect, with precipitation amounts between 25 to 50 mm expected by Sunday morning.
As freezing rain warnings remain in place, Environment Canada continues to monitor the storm’s progress, urging residents to exercise caution and prepare for potential prolonged outages.
Source: Swifteradio.com.
