Ice Storm Knocks Out Power to Hundreds of Thousands in Upstate New York and Ontario [PHOTOS + VIDEO]
It's starting to look a lot like a slippery Christmas after a massive ice storm caused extensive damage to trees, power lines and poles.
In Upstate New York, extra crews were called to help restore power to the 70,000 left in the dark.
'We were well prepared and have a very large and highly skilled workforce on the ground in the hardest hit regions. We are making excellent progress, to be sure, but the level of damage is quite severe and extremely widespread,' said Kenneth Daly, President, National Grid New York.
National Grid is hoping to having everyone back on line by Christmas Eve.
Get updates on real time outage information at National Gridus.com. You can also get text alerts on outages. Just text the word STORM to NGRID (64743) to sign up.
Take a look at pictures from around Upstate, New York and parts of Ontario.
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor, NY courtesy of @newzjunky #NNYIceStorm #icestorm2013 pic.twitter.com/J9rvNScxlE
— NWSBinghamton (@NWSBinghamton) December 22, 2013
Watertown, New York
Downed trees along Watertown's Arsenal Street. #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/wWVbqppiJq — Joanna Richards (@JoannaKRichards) December 22, 2013
Another photo. #nnyicestorm. (Courtesy: Jefferson Co Fire & Emergency Management). @JimCantore pic.twitter.com/IgaJ6XGj6M — Norwich/Chenango EMO (@NorwichEMO) December 22, 2013
#icestorm2013 #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/f7xTNymFq8 — Stevie Currier (@Tricksters4Life) December 22, 2013
According to National Grid, 22,500 without power this morning in Jefferson County #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/XTZZtljsUm — Chris N (@cjn315) December 22, 2013
Downed line over a car in the City of Watertown. #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/aUbUm70YNS — Brian Dwyer (@BrianDwyerNEWS) December 22, 2013
Another view of that road block with downed power lines. #NNYiceStorm pic.twitter.com/iQTKKRa8w7 — Brian Dwyer (@BrianDwyerNEWS) December 22, 2013
Adams, New York
From @newzjunky - power company trucks lined up in Adams. #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/5iaplvmxSQ — Michael Folsom (@theshipwatcher) December 22, 2013
Wellsley Island, New York
#wellesleyisland #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/EZeWk9W5HW — Kailey Y (@caleigardens) December 22, 2013
Dexter, New York
Shot from Dexter this morning, glad we have a generator! @newzjunky #NNYIceStorm pic.twitter.com/FWHxlwpwdA — Zach (@zpetrie21) December 22, 2013
Canada was hit hard by the storm too. A quarter of a million people are without power in the Toronto, Ontario area alone. Electric company calling it 'worst ice storm ever.'
Brampton, Ontario
The beauty and destruction of my Brampton street #torontoicestorm #citystorm #icestorm2013 pic.twitter.com/pgMuGKeREN — Martin Brown (@MartinBPhoto) December 22, 2013
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster damage really bad. This tree on power lines and a car. #icestorm2013 #onstorm no power still pic.twitter.com/VvIghxxQpU — Jaclyn Whittal (@jwhittalTWN) December 22, 2013
Some perspective on the scale of power outages from the ice storm #onstorm pic.twitter.com/YJO2K4FMB7 — Chris Scott (@ChrisScottWx) December 22, 2013
@TimHortons pic.twitter.com/uKXG029muA
— Eric McDermott (@ironllama) December 22, 2013
Kingston, Ontario
Oshawa, Canada
Ancaster damage really bad. This tree on power lines and a car. #icestorm2013 #onstorm no power still pic.twitter.com/VvIghxxQpU — Jaclyn Whittal (@jwhittalTWN) December 22, 2013
Oakville, Ontario
Bday party last night. Woke up to frozen balloons. By Atif Murtaza, Oakville #icestorm2013 #torontoicestorm @CP24 pic.twitter.com/aERkG8c4gZ — Rafey Ansari (@rafeyansari) December 22, 2013
This is how frozen everything is right now. There are kids skating in the street #IceStorm2013 pic.twitter.com/bYLBMSr0ZD
— COTNAPPAREL.COM (@DrePharaoh) December 22, 2013
Not dramatic but it is puzzles me how the ice formed a replica of the chain link fence. #icestorm2013 pic.twitter.com/xsCtMv9El1
— Adan Quan (@aquandiary) December 23, 2013
#icestorm2013 it's beautiful yet dangerous pic.twitter.com/JPcUcJdh98
— Sarah ♏ (@sjm2312) December 22, 2013