Ice storm in Canada, freezing rain in US spur power outages

Over 300,000 Canadians faced power outages in parts of Ontario as an ice storm pummeled the region over the weekend, according to electricity provider Hydro One.

Environment Canada issued winter storm warnings for freezing rain in Ottawa, parts of Quebec and Ontario, with the risk of snow mixed with or transitioning to ice pellets expected to continue in some regions.

"Outages are largely being caused by tree limbs and branches being weighed down from the accumulation of freezing rain," Hydro One said on its website, noting there is also the risk of flooding for central Ontario.

More than 350,000 customers were affected, according to its website.

Utilities provider Alectra said there were about 35,000 customers without power, primarily in Barrie, a town north of Toronto.

"Progress has been slow due to the ice on the lines, but all available resources have been deployed," it said.

The city of Orillia in Ontario declared a state of emergency due to the storm as prolonged freezing rain continues to cause widespread power outages, hazardous road conditions, downed trees and hydro lines, and damage to public and private infrastructure.

Several residents across Ontario said on social media that roads were closed due to uprooted trees.

In the United States, freezing rain brought down trees and power lines in Michigan and Wisconsin, cutting electricity for thousands of people in the upper Great Lakes region, while forecasters said severe weather was on its way to Tennessee.

Winds topping 112 kilometers per four were possible for the middle of Tennessee, with a chance of tornadoes as well as hail as large as five centimeters, the National Weather Service said. "Have your safe place cleaned out just in case," forecasters said on X.

More than 400,000 power outages were reported in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Churches that had power, as well as schools and fire halls, were turned into warming centers as utilities worked to restore electricity, a job that will likely stretch in small communities and rural pockets.

REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS