Service providers are continuing to respond to dozens of scattered power outages across Toronto and cottage country after a powerful storm brought high winds and heavy rain on Saturday, downing trees and disrupting power lines.
Hydro Toronto Responds to 145 Power Events
Toronto Hydro reported that it had dealt with 145 “power events” since Saturday, primarily caused by downed lines and trees striking wires. Environment Canada noted that approximately 50 mm of rain fell in the city center during the storm.
By Sunday evening, Toronto Hydro’s outage map showed about a dozen scattered outages in its service area, spanning from south Etobicoke to northwest Scarborough. Officials stated that they had “assessed and restored” the majority of outages while also responding to prioritized calls from emergency services.
“We know it’s not easy being without power and thank everyone for their continued patience as our crews work to safely restore power to all affected customers after yesterday’s challenging weather conditions,” Toronto Hydro said in a social media update Saturday morning.
Hydro One Faces Outages in Northern GTA and Cottage Country
Hydro One was dealing with more than 50 scattered outages from the northern edge of the GTA to Barrie, with most disruptions concentrated in an area stretching east from Aurora and Newmarket to Uxbridge. An additional 50 outages were reported in cottage country.
“Crews continue restoring power after strong winds and heavy rain across south and central Ontario,” Hydro One said in a Sunday evening update. “Damage includes downed lines from fallen trees.” They added that some customers in hard-hit or remote areas such as Newmarket, Bracebridge, and Parry Sound may not have service restored by nighttime.
Toronto Fire Services Reports Surge in Emergency Calls
Toronto Fire Services responded to more than 670 emergency incidents over the past 24 hours, a 36% increase from typical call volumes. The department saw a 300% or more surge in both HAZMAT/CBRNE calls and water-related emergencies.
“Over the past 24 hours, TFS responded to 671 emergency incidents following severe weather across the city, with call volumes 36% higher than typical across all categories. Our Communications teams coordinated emergency response efforts and supported crews across Toronto,” the department reported on social media.
Flood Warning and Event Cancellations
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority upgraded its flood status to yellow, warning that “flooding and water pooling may occur in flood plains and low-lying areas that do not drain well.” The advisory remained in effect until May 24 at 11:59 PM.
Multiple events were cancelled or postponed due to the storm, including Saturday night’s Bruno Mars concert at Rogers Stadium and Sunday’s Fallen Firefighter Ceremony on the waterfront.
Crews continue to work around the clock to restore power, but some remote areas may remain without electricity into Monday.
