Icy conditions, downed power lines as temperature flips cool again
Posted Mar 12, 2026 12:59:50 PM.
Last Updated Mar 12, 2026 01:17:34 PM.
Winds gusting across the nation’s capital early Thursday morning caused a few downed power lines and several crashes.
After several hours of precipitation and freezing rain on Wednesday, temperatures dropped overnight, damaging some infrastructure in Ottawa and creating slick roads. Firefighters and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said they were responding to “numerous” collisions.
Police said a dump truck rolled on Highway 7 near Hazeldean Road in Stittsville due to the ice. The road is closed for several hours while tow crews respond to the incident.
“We are also responding to several calls for downed hydro lines due to ice buildup and heavy winds,” Ottawa fire said in a release.
Officials said that if people see a hydro line on the ground or dangling, they should assume it’s live and call 911 immediately. They are asking people to stay at least 10 metres away from it, and if it falls on a vehicle, people should stay inside.
A total of 22.7 mm of precipitation fell at the Ottawa International Airport on Wednesday.
Wind is gusting up to 50 km/h in Ottawa on Thursday, Environment Canada said, causing some branches and power lines to break amid the ice accretion from the storm.
It feels closer to -12 from the wind, and temperatures are expected to stay below 0 C over the next few days.
本日のFreezing rain in Ottawa
