Tuesday morning's blast of wind and snow left thousands of Ottawa households and businesses in the dark, as at least 11,000 customers lost power in one of the more disruptive winter weather events the city has seen this month.
The outages came as a wave of blowing snow and high winds swept across the Ottawa region, toppling trees and power lines and forcing utilities to mobilize crews across wide swaths of the city.
What Happened
The storm system brought a dangerous combination of heavy blowing snow and wind gusts that created near-whiteout conditions on roads and overwhelmed the power grid in several neighbourhoods. The rapid onset of the storm caught some residents off guard, with conditions deteriorating quickly through the early morning hours.
Tuesday's disruptions were part of a broader weather event that also knocked out power for tens of thousands more in surrounding regions served by Hydro One, and forced multiple highway closures on the 401 near Kingston.
Staying Safe During an Outage
If your power is still out, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Report your outage via Ottawa Hydro's website or app so crews know where to prioritize repairs
- Never use generators, propane heaters, or gas BBQs indoors: carbon monoxide poisoning is a real risk
- Check on neighbours, especially seniors or people with medical equipment that depends on electricity
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve food as long as possible
When Will It Be Restored?
Restoration timelines depend on the extent of damage in your area. Ottawa Hydro's outage map at ottawahydro.com provides the most up-to-date estimates by neighbourhood. If you see a downed power line, stay well clear and call 911 immediately.
More winter weather could be on the way this week, check Environment Canada's Ottawa forecast for the latest conditions.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
