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Ice storms wreak Christmas travel chaos from Canada to US mid-west Ice storms wreak Christmas travel chaos from Canada to US mid-west
(about 5 hours later)
Extraordinary winter weather was causing chaos in the run-up to Christmas, bringing deadly ice storms, flooding and tornadoes to the mid-United States and south-east Canada. Almost a million were without power and 15 people were killed.Extraordinary winter weather was causing chaos in the run-up to Christmas, bringing deadly ice storms, flooding and tornadoes to the mid-United States and south-east Canada. Almost a million were without power and 15 people were killed.
Almost two inches of ice coated Toronto and plunged hundreds of thousands into darkness and cold at the weekend after a fierce ice storm hit the city and brought trees down onto power lines.Almost two inches of ice coated Toronto and plunged hundreds of thousands into darkness and cold at the weekend after a fierce ice storm hit the city and brought trees down onto power lines.
A bitterly cold air system from the west smashed into an unseasonably warm bubble of air moving up the Atlantic coast, creating a swath of dangerous storms from north Texas, across the prairie, up through the Great Lakes and across eastern Canada as far as Nova Scotia.A bitterly cold air system from the west smashed into an unseasonably warm bubble of air moving up the Atlantic coast, creating a swath of dangerous storms from north Texas, across the prairie, up through the Great Lakes and across eastern Canada as far as Nova Scotia.
While residents of New York City and Washington DC experienced unseasonably mild weather, with temperatures hit a record 71 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit respectively in those cities on Sunday, Detroit and Toronto were hit by freezing rain that turned into an ice blanket.While residents of New York City and Washington DC experienced unseasonably mild weather, with temperatures hit a record 71 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit respectively in those cities on Sunday, Detroit and Toronto were hit by freezing rain that turned into an ice blanket.
A woman was killed when a rare winter tornado zipped through Arkansas with 130mph winds. Five were killed in flooding in Kentucky, with three killed in traffic accidents in Oklahoma and six perishing on icy roads as the ice storm hit Ontario.A woman was killed when a rare winter tornado zipped through Arkansas with 130mph winds. Five were killed in flooding in Kentucky, with three killed in traffic accidents in Oklahoma and six perishing on icy roads as the ice storm hit Ontario.
Hospitals in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, are currently operating on emergency power generation. Energy companies are struggling to bring power back to the hospitals first and hope to have ordinary households restored with heat and light in time for Christmas.Hospitals in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, are currently operating on emergency power generation. Energy companies are struggling to bring power back to the hospitals first and hope to have ordinary households restored with heat and light in time for Christmas.
Almost 500,000 lost power in south-eastern Canada over the weekend, while around 450,000 residents of Michigan, upstate New York and New England lost their electricity as a result of a mixture of ice storms and fierce winds. “This is truly one of the worst ice storms we have ever seen here in Ontario,” said Anthony Haines, chief executive of power company Toronto Hydro.Almost 500,000 lost power in south-eastern Canada over the weekend, while around 450,000 residents of Michigan, upstate New York and New England lost their electricity as a result of a mixture of ice storms and fierce winds. “This is truly one of the worst ice storms we have ever seen here in Ontario,” said Anthony Haines, chief executive of power company Toronto Hydro.
Heavy precipitation in the south-east of the country over the weekend fell as frigid rain which froze on contact with the land. “I was supposed to drive from New York to my parents’ place in Toronto on Sunday when they called to tell me they had no power and not to travel in the treacherous conditions. Now I can’t even get through to them on the phone and I have no idea how they are keeping warm, I’m a little worried,” said Naomi Harris, a professional photographer, who planned to attempt the journey on Monday.Heavy precipitation in the south-east of the country over the weekend fell as frigid rain which froze on contact with the land. “I was supposed to drive from New York to my parents’ place in Toronto on Sunday when they called to tell me they had no power and not to travel in the treacherous conditions. Now I can’t even get through to them on the phone and I have no idea how they are keeping warm, I’m a little worried,” said Naomi Harris, a professional photographer, who planned to attempt the journey on Monday.
Her parents Jerry Harris, 78, a retired lawyer, and Diane, 74, a retired nurse, spent an hour chiseling off the thick ice that had completely cloaked their car in the northern Toronto suburb where they live, before they were able to drive slowly to a store to buy some food.Her parents Jerry Harris, 78, a retired lawyer, and Diane, 74, a retired nurse, spent an hour chiseling off the thick ice that had completely cloaked their car in the northern Toronto suburb where they live, before they were able to drive slowly to a store to buy some food.
“This isn’t normal for Toronto. I guess with my parents, me, the dog and cat we’ll be able to huddle together for warmth. And we don’t care about Christmas, we’re Jewish. I just hope I make it back OK,” Harris told the Guardian.“This isn’t normal for Toronto. I guess with my parents, me, the dog and cat we’ll be able to huddle together for warmth. And we don’t care about Christmas, we’re Jewish. I just hope I make it back OK,” Harris told the Guardian.
Toronto resident Stephanie Linker, 16, said the storm was frightening to witness as it hit around 4am Sunday morning and brought trees crashing down onto power lines, houses and cars.
“On Sunday morning my mother and I walked down the street and heard a snap overhead, we ran forward and a huge branch fell from a tree right down on the spot where we’d been walking. It’s been really scary. Trees are still coming down, we are still hearing snapping and crashing sounds regularly and all the trees around where we live have fallen,” she said.
The Linkers have no power and are keeping relatively warm by gathering and sleeping in the living room by their log fire.
“Luckily we had wood. Others are out of logs and have moved to hotels. Our block is like a ghost town, it seems like we are the last house left occupied. My sister is knitting by the light of the flames, it’s quite Victorian, very weird,” she said.
The Linkers are expecting 18 relatives for Christmas lunch and are hoping their power is restored in time to heat and light the house and produce the meal. Their Christmas turkey is currently frozen solid.
“We are crossing our fingers the power comes back. You can’t phone the company or the city to find out at the moment, they are simply overwhelmed. We have no Plan B for producing the meal, so we are going to hope for the best,” she said.
Toronto mayor Rob Ford refused to call a state of emergency, saying he would monitor the situation, especially the hospitals, before deciding if the crisis was getting worse or receding. He said the worst of the weather was over.Toronto mayor Rob Ford refused to call a state of emergency, saying he would monitor the situation, especially the hospitals, before deciding if the crisis was getting worse or receding. He said the worst of the weather was over.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared an emergency upstate as a result of the winter ice storm.New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared an emergency upstate as a result of the winter ice storm.
Last-minute Christmas shopping and festive travel was severely affected across much of the area of mid-North America hit by the ice, wind and rain.Last-minute Christmas shopping and festive travel was severely affected across much of the area of mid-North America hit by the ice, wind and rain.
On the US east coast, temperatures on Sunday were more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit above the average high for the time of year. The weather remained warm and wet on Monday but was set to plunge below freezing overnight. The areas south and north-east of the Great Lakes will continue to remain well below freezing into Christmas.On the US east coast, temperatures on Sunday were more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit above the average high for the time of year. The weather remained warm and wet on Monday but was set to plunge below freezing overnight. The areas south and north-east of the Great Lakes will continue to remain well below freezing into Christmas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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