[CBC News] Fri, 17 Feb 2006 18:46:36 EST
Powerful winds, freezing rain and snowstorms blasted a large part of the country Friday, causing at least four deaths near Ottawa and another in Quebec as slick roads turned treacherous for motorists.
Southern Ontario and Quebec were battered Thursday night by high winds, freezing rain and thunderstorms, and the extreme weather spilled over into the Friday morning rush hour.
High winds whip through downtown Ottawa on Friday.
In the Ottawa area, whiteout conditions and a flash freeze led to multiple accidents, including a pileup that killed at least four people on an eastbound section of Highway 417 near Embrun. Police say about 60 vehicles were involved, including four tractor-trailers.
A separate section of the same highway was briefly closed after ice flew off a tractor-trailer and smashed through the window of a Voyageur bus. Police say no one was injured in the latter incident.
A 30-car pileup on Highway 17 near Arnprior closed that road for a time as well. Five people were seriously injured.
Dozens of flights were cancelled at Ottawa's international airport, with the bad weather leaving passengers stranded in their seats as the planes sat on the tarmac.
The wind also tore down traffic lights at about 20 different intersections throughout the city of Kingston.
In Canada's biggest city, Toronto Hostel Services issued an extreme cold weather alert aimed at getting the homeless out of the streets, while many flights were delayed or cancelled at Pearson International Airport.
Powerful winds of up to 90 km/h also brought down trees and power lines, resulting in some blackouts. More snow and strong winds were expected through Friday.
Most of Quebec hit by storm
Quebec is being hit by another winter storm, which dumped rain, freezing rain and snow on nearly every region.
An estimated 100,000 customers throughout Quebec were without power by mid-afternoon Friday, Hydro-Quebec told CBC News.
Extremely strong winds and widely fluctuating temperatures were making for extremely difficult and dangerous driving conditions.
At mid-afternoon Friday, dozens of people were trapped in their cars on Highway 40 near Joliette after a major car pileup involving between 50 and 60 cars.
Preliminary reports suggested dozens of people were injured. Police have closed the highway in both directions.
A snow and ice-covered street in Montreal. Almost every region in Quebec was hit by rain, freezing rain and snow on Friday and Hydro-Quebec reported that about 100,000 customers were without power by mid-afternoon.
In Montreal, several accidents were reported, including one in which a car lost control and rammed into a tanker truck.
On Thursday evening, a 35-year-old man was killed because of snowy and windy conditions at St. Christian in the Eastern Townships. Witnesses say the driver was trying to pass a snowplow and collided with another vehicle as he overtook the plow.
Atlantic Canada bracing for wind
The storm is also expected to hit Atlantic Canada, starting with wind warnings for many parts of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia Friday evening. Freezing rain is also expected in some places.
Environment Canada is warning of large waves and pounding surf along Newfoundland's west coast Saturday.
Meteorologist Jeremy March says strong west to southwest winds will develop along the Gulf of St. Lawrence after midnight.
People tried to make alternate plans after all flights were delayed or cancelled at the Ottawa airport.
Forecasters predict waves possibly reaching eight metres around the Port au Port Peninsula on Saturday afternoon.
Chill has West in grip
Meanwhile, the West continues to suffer from a frigid cold snap.
In British Columbia, homeless shelters across the Lower Mainland have declared an extreme weather emergency and are opening extra beds, as overnight temperatures dropped down to ?7 C, which is more like ?14 C with the windchill.
Albertans continue to face frigid weather, with temperatures of ?23 C in Calgary and ?20 C in Edmonton.
Regina's has dipped to ?27 C, with the wind chill making it feel like ? 43 C. Winnipeg is recording temperatures of ?32 C, or ?45 C with the wind chill.
Powerful winds, freezing rain and snowstorms blasted a large part of the country Friday, causing at least four deaths near Ottawa and another in Quebec as slick roads turned treacherous for motorists.
Southern Ontario and Quebec were battered Thursday night by high winds, freezing rain and thunderstorms, and the extreme weather spilled over into the Friday morning rush hour.
High winds whip through downtown Ottawa on Friday.
In the Ottawa area, whiteout conditions and a flash freeze led to multiple accidents, including a pileup that killed at least four people on an eastbound section of Highway 417 near Embrun. Police say about 60 vehicles were involved, including four tractor-trailers.
A separate section of the same highway was briefly closed after ice flew off a tractor-trailer and smashed through the window of a Voyageur bus. Police say no one was injured in the latter incident.
A 30-car pileup on Highway 17 near Arnprior closed that road for a time as well. Five people were seriously injured.
Dozens of flights were cancelled at Ottawa's international airport, with the bad weather leaving passengers stranded in their seats as the planes sat on the tarmac.
The wind also tore down traffic lights at about 20 different intersections throughout the city of Kingston.
In Canada's biggest city, Toronto Hostel Services issued an extreme cold weather alert aimed at getting the homeless out of the streets, while many flights were delayed or cancelled at Pearson International Airport.
Powerful winds of up to 90 km/h also brought down trees and power lines, resulting in some blackouts. More snow and strong winds were expected through Friday.
Most of Quebec hit by storm
Quebec is being hit by another winter storm, which dumped rain, freezing rain and snow on nearly every region.
An estimated 100,000 customers throughout Quebec were without power by mid-afternoon Friday, Hydro-Quebec told CBC News.
Extremely strong winds and widely fluctuating temperatures were making for extremely difficult and dangerous driving conditions.
At mid-afternoon Friday, dozens of people were trapped in their cars on Highway 40 near Joliette after a major car pileup involving between 50 and 60 cars.
Preliminary reports suggested dozens of people were injured. Police have closed the highway in both directions.
A snow and ice-covered street in Montreal. Almost every region in Quebec was hit by rain, freezing rain and snow on Friday and Hydro-Quebec reported that about 100,000 customers were without power by mid-afternoon.
In Montreal, several accidents were reported, including one in which a car lost control and rammed into a tanker truck.
On Thursday evening, a 35-year-old man was killed because of snowy and windy conditions at St. Christian in the Eastern Townships. Witnesses say the driver was trying to pass a snowplow and collided with another vehicle as he overtook the plow.
Atlantic Canada bracing for wind
The storm is also expected to hit Atlantic Canada, starting with wind warnings for many parts of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia Friday evening. Freezing rain is also expected in some places.
Environment Canada is warning of large waves and pounding surf along Newfoundland's west coast Saturday.
Meteorologist Jeremy March says strong west to southwest winds will develop along the Gulf of St. Lawrence after midnight.
People tried to make alternate plans after all flights were delayed or cancelled at the Ottawa airport.
Forecasters predict waves possibly reaching eight metres around the Port au Port Peninsula on Saturday afternoon.
Chill has West in grip
Meanwhile, the West continues to suffer from a frigid cold snap.
In British Columbia, homeless shelters across the Lower Mainland have declared an extreme weather emergency and are opening extra beds, as overnight temperatures dropped down to ?7 C, which is more like ?14 C with the windchill.
Albertans continue to face frigid weather, with temperatures of ?23 C in Calgary and ?20 C in Edmonton.
Regina's has dipped to ?27 C, with the wind chill making it feel like ? 43 C. Winnipeg is recording temperatures of ?32 C, or ?45 C with the wind chill.
