Severe winds down trees, cause power outages in GTA
Posted March 3, 2012 9:26 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Downed power lines and trees marked the path of the destructive winds that blew through the GTA and southern Ontario overnight and into Saturday.
Hydro One reported more than 200 outages affecting some 75,000 customers across the province, according to The Canadian Press.
Toronto Hydro confirmed crews were out making repairs, but said power may not be back in some areas until the winds subside.
Environment Canada issued a wind warning Friday for much of southern Ontario, including the GTA. The warning for Toronto and Hamilton ended on Saturday afternoon.
The agency predicted sustained winds of 60 km/h with gusts reaching 90 km/h.
In fact, gusts approached 100 km/h in Hamilton and at Toronto’s island airport, where a ferry was blown off course.
And two ships collided in Port Colborne, about 150 kilometres south of Toronto.
Damage was reported across the city, including downed power lines, trees, signs and traffic lights. A large tree branch forced King streetcars to divert for several hours Saturday.
A number of residents said the windows of their homes were shattered.
The winds, which are part of the same system that battered the United States, are expected to ease by Saturday evening.
Do you have photos of the wind damage? Send them to us here.
If you spot a downed power line, call Toronto Hydro at 416-542-8000.
With files from680News
