Ice Storm Shuts Schools and Cuts Power to 163,000 Homes Across Quebec
A powerful wave of freezing rain has swept across parts of Quebec, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dealing with power outages, closed schools and dangerous road conditions. What began as a forecasted winter storm quickly turned into a widespread disruption affecting daily life across the province.
By late morning, roughly 163,000 homes and businesses were without electricity. The outages spread across multiple regions, but the hardest-hit area was Montérégie, where tens of thousands of households suddenly found themselves in the dark. Other areas, including Montreal, Outaouais, the Laurentians and Centre-du-Québec, also reported significant outages as ice accumulated on power lines and tree branches.
The storm arrived in waves. Early rain turned into a band of freezing rain that moved across southern Quebec during the evening and overnight hours. As temperatures hovered around the freezing point, the rain instantly froze on contact with surfaces. Roads turned slick, branches snapped under the weight of ice and power lines sagged or failed. That is when the number of outages began rising rapidly.
Hydro-Québec, the province’s power utility, has mobilized around 2,000 workers to restore electricity. Crews are spread across affected regions, assessing damage and repairing infrastructure. Officials say that while there are many outages, the damage to equipment appears manageable so far, which means most power could be restored relatively quickly. However, strong wind gusts and falling temperatures could complicate those repair efforts.
Also Read:- Golf’s Biggest Non-Major Begins: Scheffler, McIlroy Headline Epic Players Championship
- UK Passport Office Issues Urgent Travel Warning Ahead of Spring Holidays
The impact goes beyond electricity. Several school service centers announced closures for a second straight day, especially in areas where roads remain hazardous or where power is still out. Parents and students in some regions woke up once again to cancelled classes as authorities prioritized safety.
Transportation also felt the strain. In Montreal, a section of the REM light rail network was temporarily shut down after ice built up on the overhead power lines. Service later began returning gradually, but the interruption highlighted how even modern infrastructure can struggle against extreme winter conditions.
Meanwhile, the storm has also caused unusual problems in the city itself. A major water pipe break flooded an old warehouse near a key Montreal roadway, forcing the closure of part of a busy boulevard while emergency crews worked to stop the flow and pump out the water.
Weather officials say the storm system is now moving east, bringing snow to other regions. But colder temperatures and strong winds could keep conditions challenging for several hours.
For residents across Quebec, this storm is another reminder of how quickly winter weather can disrupt power, transportation and daily life.
Stay with us for continuing coverage as crews restore power, schools make reopening decisions and authorities monitor conditions across the region.
Read More:
0 Comments