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Toronto ice storm leaves many facing cold, dark Christmas Thousands face no power after ice storm in North America
(about 1 hour later)
Residents of Toronto face a Christmas without electricity after a severe ice storm enveloped Canada's biggest city on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of households in Canada and the northern US are facing a Christmas without electricity after a severe ice storm hit on Sunday.
About 219,000 city dwellers were without power as of Monday afternoon, Toronto Hydro reported. About 400,000 in eastern Canada and 280,000 in the US state of Michigan were without power as of Monday.
The power firm said it expected most restorations to be done by Thursday, but that some residents may not have electricity until the weekend. In Toronto, a power firm has said power will be restored for most residents by Thursday, but that some may not have electricity until the weekend.
The city has opened several warming centres across Toronto. The city has opened several warming centres across the city.
Temperatures as low as -15C (5F) are expected over the next few days. Temperatures as low as -15C (5F) are expected southern Canada over the next few days.
At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the storm system in Canada and parts of the US, which were also affected. At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the storm system in North America, five of them in accidents on ice-covered Canadian roads.
'Truly catastrophic''Truly catastrophic'
Five of those were people were killed in Canada in accidents on ice-covered roads.
An estimated 10-30 mm of ice built up on trees and other surfaces in the greater Toronto area during the storm.An estimated 10-30 mm of ice built up on trees and other surfaces in the greater Toronto area during the storm.
Sheets of ice fell from buildings and off moving vehicles, Canadian TV channel CBC said.Sheets of ice fell from buildings and off moving vehicles, Canadian TV channel CBC said.
Via Rail warned customers travelling between Toronto and Montreal, Ottawa and New York to expect delays on Monday.Via Rail warned customers travelling between Toronto and Montreal, Ottawa and New York to expect delays on Monday.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford resisted declaring a state of emergency, but said getting electricity to hospitals and community housing should be a priority.Toronto Mayor Rob Ford resisted declaring a state of emergency, but said getting electricity to hospitals and community housing should be a priority.
Efforts to reconnect power continued through the night and Toronto Hydro said it was able to restore electricity to about 85,000 customers in the Toronto area.Efforts to reconnect power continued through the night and Toronto Hydro said it was able to restore electricity to about 85,000 customers in the Toronto area.
Another 100,000 customers were without power in wider Ontario as well as about 50,000 in Quebec and some 6,000 more in New Brunswick.Another 100,000 customers were without power in wider Ontario as well as about 50,000 in Quebec and some 6,000 more in New Brunswick.
Earlier, Toronto Hydro's chief executive officer Anthony Haines said it was "truly a catastrophic ice storm that we have had here, probably one of the worst we've ever had".Earlier, Toronto Hydro's chief executive officer Anthony Haines said it was "truly a catastrophic ice storm that we have had here, probably one of the worst we've ever had".
"We've got lines down everywhere." Officials warned high winds on Monday could lead to falling branches and more felled power lines.
Officials have warned high winds forecast for Monday could lead to falling branches and more felled power lines. Flights were delayed or cancelled due to the storm in the US and Canada, at one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Over the border in the United States, many flights were also cancelled due to the storm, at one of the busiest travel periods of the year. In New York's St Lawrence County, almost two inches (51mm) of ice had accumulated on Sunday.
More than 400,000 people were also left without power in Michigan, New York state and New England. More than 400,000 people were also left without power in the northern US after the storm.
The US National Weather Service warned that "another round of snow and ice" was expected for New England on Monday as the storm winds down. About 280,000 were still without power in Michigan, including 80,000 in Detroit.
At least five people were killed by flooding caused by the storm in Kentucky, while a woman reportedly died as a tornado wreaked havoc in Arkansas. A spokesman for one of the Michigan electricity firms told the Detroit Free Press it could be the end of the week before power is restored.
However, the system has also brought record high temperatures to some parts of the east coast of the US, with the temperature in New York's Central Park reaching 21C. Records were also set in several other cities. The US National Weather Service warned "another round of snow and ice" was expected for New England on Monday.
Parts of Maine are expected to see as much as half an inch of ice.
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