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North America storms spell cold, dark Christmas for many US and Canada storms spell cold, dark Christmas for many
(about 17 hours later)
Hundreds of thousands of households in Canada and the northern US are facing a Christmas without electricity after a severe ice storm on Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of households in Canada and the northern US are facing a Christmas without electricity after a severe ice storm.
About 400,000 customers in eastern Canada and 280,000 in the US state of Michigan had no power as of Monday. Nearly 400,000 customers in eastern Canada and 390,000 in the US are still without power, with Michigan worst hit.
In Toronto, a utility has said power will be restored for most residents by Thursday, but that some may not have electricity until the weekend. In Toronto, a utility has said power may not be restored for most residents until Thursday, and that some may be without electricity until the weekend.
The city has opened several warming centres across the city. The city has opened several warming centres for those without power.
Temperatures as low as -15C (5F) are expected in southern Canada over the next few days. Temperatures as low as -15C are expected in southern Canada over the next few days. Five people have died in accidents on ice-covered Canadian roads.
At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the storm system in North America, five of them in accidents on ice-covered Canadian roads. At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the storm system in North America, including five people killed in flooding in Kentucky.
'Truly catastrophic' Up to 30mm (1.2in) of ice built up on trees and other surfaces in the greater Toronto area during the storm on Sunday.
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 moving vehicles, Canadian TV channel CBC said.Sheets of ice fell from buildings and 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 Tuesday.
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. He called the storm one of the worst in Toronto's history.
Another 100,000 customers were without power in wider Ontario as well as about 50,000 in Quebec and 6,000 more in New Brunswick. More than 100,000 customers had power restored in the city, but about 190,000 customers are still without power, he said.
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". Another 80,000 customers were without power in wider Ontario as well as about 34,000 in Quebec, 49,000 in New Brunswick and another 6,600 in Nova Scotia.
Officials warned high winds on Monday could bring down more branches and power lines. Toronto Hydro chief Anthony Haines said some customers might not get power back until 26 December.
Flights were delayed or cancelled due to the storm in the US and Canada at one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Environment Canada meteorologist David Phillips warned that the ice would remain as temperatures stayed below freezing.
In New York's St Lawrence County, almost two inches (51mm) of ice had accumulated on Sunday. "There's no natural melting going on," he said. "It's going to be human effort and endeavour that will get rid of the sheath of ice that's covering eastern Canada."
More than 400,000 people were also left without power in the northern US after the storm. Flights were delayed or cancelled because of the storm in the US and Canada at one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
About 280,000 were still without power in Michigan, including 80,000 in Detroit. More than 390,000 people were also left without power in the northern US, including upstate New York, Michigan and Maine.
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.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.
The US National Weather Service warned "another round of snow and ice" was expected for New England on Monday. The US National Weather Service is warning of very cold winds (-5 to -10C) and is advising people to stay indoors.
Parts of Maine are expected to see as much as half an inch of ice.
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