Today’s winter storm is expected to wind down tonight. Environment Canada says a few more centimetres of snow is likely before it tapers off this evening. However, the weather service says strong northerly winds will continue to cause blowing snow overnight. Expect low visibility due to the blowing snow, and Environment Canada advises postponing all non-essential travel until the conditions improve.
Today’s storm knocked power out in a number of areas across cottage country:
- Algonquin Highlands – 3000 customers – Restoration at 11:30pm
- Dorset area – 1,977 customers – Restoration pushed back to 10:00pm
- Gravenhurst – Doe Lake Rd – 25 customers – Restoration at 5:00pm
- Lake of Bays (Along Hwy 117) – 162 customers- Restoration at 5:30pm
- Utterson – 20 customers at Mary Lake – Restoration at 6:15pm
- Baysville – Two outages – 870 customers – Restoration at 5:15pm
- Bracebridge, Raymond & Windermere – 125 customers- No restoration time yet
- Bracebridge, Leech Lake – 79 customers- Restoration at 5:30pm
- Bracebridge, Macbeth Island – 239 customers – Restoration at 6pm
- Fraserburg – 57 customers – Restoration at 5:45pm
- Huntsville, Brunel Rd – 110 customers – Restoration at 5pm
- Lakewood off 118 towards Hali – 239 customers – Restoration at 6:00pm
- Bracebridge area Bigwind Lake Prov Park – 69 customers – Restoration at 5pm
Some earlier outages have now been restored:
- Lake of Bays – 4,354 customers – Restored
- Gravenhurst – up to 5000 customers – Restored
- Outside Baysville area – 334 customers – Restored
- Kilworthy – 853 customers – Restored
- Near Fawn Lake – 42 customers – Restored
- Bracebridge area Hwy 117 Stoneleigh and up – 754 customers – Restored
- Muskoka Lakes – Around 120 customers – Restored
- Algonquin Highlands – 2,986 customers – Restored
Traffic lights are reported to be out in various areas, and should be treated as a four-way stop.
There are no reports of any road closures in Muskoka yet, however Highway 69 is closed in Parry Sound between Highway 124 and 522 due to a transport truck collision. Some local traffic is being let through, but drivers should avoid the area if possible. There has also been a crash on Highway 400 SB at Duckworth Street. The OPP says it’s a multi-vehicle crash which appears to be weather-related. Drivers asked to avoid the area.
Highway 11 NB between the Hwy 400 split and Line 6 is closed due to whiteouts and poor weather conditions.
#OPP advising of multiple crashes on Hwy 400 – southbound Hwy 400 is closed between Duckworth And Dunlop Streets – strong wind, blowing and drifting snow – icy conditions throughout the area – traffic is not moving at this time – 50 plus cars involved pic.twitter.com/SkA9ylp4Gv
— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) April 4, 2018
Branches are reported to be strewn across the roads around Muskoka, particularly in Huntsville. Drive with caution and according to road conditions.
Cst. Gathmann and a couple others helping take a tree off Brunel Rd. #axeinthetrunk. Ice + wind = trees down. #HvilOPP @LakeofBaysON travel with caution today, ^lc pic.twitter.com/F5iEOfj9yX
— OPP Central (@OPP_CR) April 4, 2018
You can stay up-to-date with event cancellations around Muskoka here:
