Eastern Canada Braces for Major, Prolonged Ice Storm

GATINEAU, QC – March 10, 2026 – Millions of residents across Eastern and Central Canada are preparing for a severe and prolonged freezing rain event that officials warn could be a “potentially critical” weather disaster. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued stark warnings on Tuesday, signaling the arrival of a weather system expected to cause extensive and widespread disruption across Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada beginning early Wednesday, March 11.

In a technical briefing, federal meteorologists described the approaching storm as a significant threat, capable of producing 15 to 30 millimeters or more of freezing rain. This level of ice accumulation, coupled with a prolonged duration of up to 24 hours in some areas, poses a severe risk to infrastructure, public safety, and daily life. Orange-level warnings—indicating weather likely to cause significant damage and disruption for days—are now active for a vast corridor including Ottawa and Montreal.

A Call for Urgent Preparedness

With the storm’s first bands of freezing rain imminent, public safety officials are urging residents to finalize their emergency preparations immediately. The primary concerns are widespread and long-lasting power outages, as the weight of the ice is expected to bring down tree branches and power lines. Authorities strongly advise against all non-essential travel as roads, sidewalks, and all exposed surfaces will become extremely icy and hazardous.

Public Safety Canada recommends that every household have an emergency kit sufficient for at least 72 hours. This kit should include:

• At least four liters of water per person per day.
• A supply of non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio and flashlights with extra batteries.
• A first-aid kit, necessary medications, and cash.
• Warm blankets and layered clothing to cope with potential cold inside homes during outages.

Residents are also reminded to ensure their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functional, especially if considering alternative heating sources. Keeping mobile devices charged and having power banks ready is crucial for staying informed. For the most current information, ECCC directs the public to its WeatherCAN mobile app and its official website.

Echoes of Disasters Past

The grave warnings from meteorologists evoke memories of Canada’s most devastating ice storms, events that have become benchmarks for natural disasters in the country. The looming threat is being compared to the Great Ice Storm of 1998, which paralyzed a similar swath of Eastern Canada. That historic storm unleashed over 100 mm of ice in some areas, causing 35 fatalities, leaving millions without power for weeks, and necessitating the largest domestic military deployment in Canadian history. The economic toll was staggering, with billions in insurance claims and restoration costs.

More recent events also provide a sobering context. An April 2023 ice storm in Quebec, which dropped over 30 mm of freezing rain on Montreal, cut power to over a million customers and caused extensive damage to the city’s tree canopy. Just last year, in March 2025, a storm left over a million hydro customers in Ontario in the dark and cost millions in damages after freezing rain persisted for over 30 hours in some locations, snapping more than 2,300 utility poles.

These historical precedents underscore the destructive potential of freezing rain. While the current forecast may not match the absolute intensity of the 1998 storm in all areas, its “extensive, widespread, and prolonged” nature, as described by ECCC, places it in a high-risk category that demands serious preparation from both the public and authorities.

Infrastructure on High Alert

As the storm system moves in, critical infrastructure is bracing for impact. Hydro utilities in Ontario and Quebec have mobilized crews, but acknowledge the immense challenge ahead. As of early Wednesday, Hydro-Québec was already reporting approximately 65,000 customers without power, with Hydro One in Ontario reporting over 33,000 outages. These numbers are expected to climb sharply as the ice accumulates through Wednesday and into the evening.

Strong winds of up to 60 km/h are forecast to accompany the ice, a combination that dramatically increases the risk of falling branches and toppling power lines. The subsequent cold snap expected on Thursday and Friday will further complicate matters, making restoration work more difficult and dangerous for crews, and prolonging the misery for those without heat.

Transportation networks are already grinding to a halt. Numerous school boards across Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec have cancelled buses and closed schools. In Montreal, universities have suspended activities, and the REM light-rail service was suspended due to the weather. Montreal's Trudeau airport has seen over 150 flight cancellations. Provincial authorities are pleading with the public to stay off the roads, with major highways like Quebec’s Autoroute 50 and 15 at high risk of becoming impassable sheets of ice.

Compounding the crisis, heavy rainfall in Southern Ontario is causing localized flooding on already saturated and frozen ground. As the freezing rain continues its eastward march, the full extent of the damage will only become clear in the coming days, with a long and challenging recovery period almost certain for the hardest-hit communities.