Event CategoryDisaster
Event GroupNatural
Event SubgroupMeteorological - Hydrological
Event TypeWinter Storm
PlaceSouthern Ontario
Event Start DateMarch 23, 2016
Event End DateMarch 26, 2016
CommentsSouthern Ontario, March 23-26, 2016. A warm front over southern Ontario caused snow, rain and freezing rain to fall over a three-day period. The wet weather began as snow for many regions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and then briefly turned into rain before freezing rain occurred overnight. On March 24, freezing rain impacted regions west of Toronto and the GTA. Highly elevated areas including the Niagara escarpment, Dundalk Highlands and parts of the GTA received 24 hours of freezing rain. Freezing rain occurred throughout southern Ontario until March 26, leaving several communities with significant ice accumulation including 35 mm in Fergus, 33 mm in Orangeville, 20 mm Brampton and Newmarket as well as 10 mm north of Barrie and Toronto. The freezing rain caused damages to personal property and municipal infrastructure due to the significant ice buildup. Downed trees destroyed power lines and caused damages to homes, outbuildings and vehicles. Approximately 100,000 hydro customers (300,000 individuals) were without power during the storm. Additionally, the storm caused the cancelation of in-going and out-going flights at the Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport as well as resulted in the closure and cancelation of schools and municipal busses.
FatalitiesUnknown
Injured / InfectedUnknown
EvacuatedUnknown
Estimated Total Cost$27,379,000
Federal DFAA PaymentsUnknown
Provincial DFAA PaymentsUnknown
Provincial Department PaymentsUnknown
Municipal CostsUnknown
OGD CostsUnknown
Insurance Payments$27,379,000
NGO PaymentsUnknown
Utility - People Affected300000
MagnitudeUnknown