Photos: Ontario ice storm causes widespread damage, outages
One Ontario town declared a state of emergency due to the storm's dangerous impacts.
A potent and prolonged spring storm made its way into Ontario during the overnight hours on Friday.
Northeastern Ontario and parts of eastern Ontario received a hefty helping of late-March snow during the overnight, but it’s the freezing rain in central Ontario that has been stealing the show.
Freezing rain moved into central Ontario early Saturday, leading to significant ice accretion on outdoor surfaces, including trees and power lines. Over 50,000 Hydro One customers lost power Saturday morning across the Barrie, Orillia, and Peterborough areas. That number rapidly rose to over 300,000 by noon on Sunday. Some residents remained without power into Monday morning.
SEE ALSO: What does a ‘normal’ spring look like across Canada?
Several communities declared a state of emergency over the weekend, including Orillia, Peterborough, the District of Muskoka, and the Township of Oro-Medonte.
Wind could complicate Monday clean-up efforts
Wind gusts upwards of 50 km/h could cause already-weakened trees to snap Monday, potentially complicating clean-up efforts.
DON'T MISS: Winter is over, but spring means vital vehicle maintenance
See below for photos and videos published to social media showcasing the impacts of this spring event.