Winter storm freezes holiday plans for Canadians as VIA Rail travel seizes between Ontario and Quebec
The most recent:
- Surroundings Canada has issued weather warnings for many provinces and territories.
- Throughout Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and the Maritimes, a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals are with out energy.
- Tons of of passengers trapped on VIA Rail trains between Toronto and Montreal in a single day.
- Worries about flooding, harmful street situations in B.C.
- CBC Lite: If the facility or information in your system is low, get your storm updates on CBC Lite. It is our low-bandwidth, text-only web site.
Tons of of 1000’s of individuals throughout Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces are beginning their Saturday with out energy, as crews scramble to repair outages brought on by wild winds, snow and ice.
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In lots of elements of the nation, together with Ontario and British Columbia, officers are urging motorists to keep away from journey if doable as treacherous winter situations proceed.
Western and northern elements of Canada are dealing with one other day of extraordinarily chilly temperatures, whereas in some locations, rainfall will create flood dangers as a result of frozen floor.
400,000 with out energy in Ontario, Quebec
In Ontario, upwards of 82,000 clients have been with out energy Saturday morning, principally in jap and southern elements of the province, in addition to north previous Thunder Bay. Hydro One mentioned its crews have been trying to revive energy however have been hampered by excessive winds, blowing snow and blizzard-like situations which proceed to trigger outages. Some clients might face ongoing restoration delays.
The Ontario Provincial Police have been urging individuals to remain off the roads if doable, after massive pileups and hundreds of other collisions on Friday amid icy street situations with very low visibility.
There have been a number of closures alongside Freeway 401 Saturday morning, whereas many different freeway sections all through southern elements of the province remained closed. Hold updated with the most recent closures on the 511 Ontario website.
Gerald Cheng, meteorologist for Surroundings and Local weather Change Canada, says motorists have to take excessive care on Saturday as situations stay hazardous as a consequence of snow and robust winds.
In Quebec, greater than 307,000 clients have been with out energy Saturday, with the Capitale-Nationale round Quebec Metropolis and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean areas hit onerous. Hydro Quebec mentioned it was hopeful about enhancing situations on Saturday, as crews proceed restoration work.
If your house is with out energy, don’t use out of doors heating gear indoors, like fuel-burning heaters, lights, mills or moveable stoves, as these could cause asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning if used inside.
Surroundings Canada is warning blizzards, robust winds and different stormy climate in elements of Ontario and Quebec will doubtless proceed into Christmas.
B.C. endures extra dangerous climate
Weather warnings stay in impact for a lot of elements of western and southern British Columbia, together with Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, with extra snowfall on the best way Saturday, in addition to heavy rains that might trigger flooding.
Greater than 10,000 BC Hydro customers have been with out energy Saturday morning, most of them on the Decrease Mainland and Sunshine Coast. Crews labored by means of the evening to attempt to get as many properties as doable again on the grid, and that work continues Saturday, officers mentioned.
Motorists have been urged to take additional care on roads and highways throughout the province. DriveBC mentioned travellers ought to count on quickly deteriorating situations, contemplate altering their journey plans, and be ready for closures on brief discover. Discover the most recent street situations on the DriveBC website.
Energy outages in Maritimes
Tens of 1000’s of individuals have been with out energy in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island on Saturday morning.
In New Brunswick, greater than 38,000 clients have been with out energy Saturday morning. Surroundings Canada has issued a storm surge warning within the Bay of Chaleur from Miscou Island to Campbellton, the place coastal flooding, seaside erosion, minor infrastructure injury and coastal street washouts are anticipated.
In P.E.I., robust winds have been easing Saturday morning. Flights at Charlottetown Airport have resumed and the Confederation Bridge, which was closed to all visitors Friday evening as a consequence of excessive winds, has reopened. Maritime Electric crews have been working to revive energy to about 4,600 properties and hoped to have all of them reconnected by the tip of Saturday.
Greater than 11,000 customers in Nova Scotia have been with out energy Saturday morning. Excessive winds, rain and storm surges have been anticipated to hit Cape Breton within the coming hours.
Rail passengers stranded, journey troubles proceed
Tons of of passengers have been stranded on VIA Rail trains on the Québec Metropolis-Windsor hall from Friday evening into Saturday morning. In a press release, VIA Rail advised CBC Information that energy outages and fallen timber made it inconceivable to maneuver a number of the trains.
The rail operator mentioned it was making an attempt to maintain caught passengers snug whereas it looked for different transport, and promised them full refunds. Extra rail delays have been anticipated Saturday.
Whereas extra flights have been arriving and departing at Vancouver Worldwide Airport than in days previous on Saturday, the airport warned passengers that their flight schedules might change, and to test the most recent flight info with their airline. The airport was as a consequence of give an replace at 1 p.m. PT Saturday.
Air Canada is warning of further flight disruptions in Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec Metropolis and Montreal by means of to Christmas Day.
Elsewhere in Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador escaped the brunt of the winter storm, however elements of the province are anticipated to face heavy downpours, robust winds and storm surges all through Saturday.
The climate continues to be frigid in elements of Yukon, Northwest Territories, northern B.C. and the Prairies, with temperatures within the –40s or –50s C, relying on the area.
