The ice storm of 1998 came with no howling winds, no torrents of floodwater, no seismic convulsions, not even a clap of thunder. Such a team was assembled to survey the ice storm and flood of january 1998. Forest damage caused by the ice strom of january 1998. While we humans suffered greatly from januarys great ice storm, with more than 20 lives lost, billions of dollars of damage done, and loss of electrical power for as long as two weeks for some people, by far the greatest and most enduring effect of the great ice storm of 1998 is the extensive damage done to our trees and forests. The lowhanging power lines at the casselman exit, 50 km east of ottawa, kept dozens of trucks at bay for hours. January 1998 north american ice storm military wiki fandom. Damaging ice storm gis engineer research and development. Environment canada is warning of a likely ice storm saturday morning as northeasterly winds move cold, arctic air into the region, causing temperatures to drop below zero. I chose to research the great northeastern ice storm of 1998 because i think the danger of ice storms is often underestimated. Heavy rain associated with a warm moist airmass overspread a shallow but dense layer of cold air producing ice accumulations in excess of three inches. What ice storm accumulations mean and how to stay safe the. Canada copes with the ice storm of 1998 citations metrics.
Sep 30, 2014 pregnancy stress during 1998 ice storm linked to genetic changes in children after birth, study suggests open this photo in gallery. May 10, 2019 trees and hydro wires fell and utility poles and transmission towers came down causing massive power outages, some for as long as a month. A massive blizzard blanketed mississippi in ice in 1994. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. For the latest ice conditions, click the appropriate region on the map. In january of 1998, the people in eastern ontario and western quebec experienced an ice storm that left an indelible impact on them and their environment. News freezing rain warnings issued in southern ontario. Freezing rain brought down millions of trees, 120,000 km of power lines and telephone cables, major transmission towers and about 30,000 wooden utility poles. I woke before dawn to complete darkness no nightlight from the bathroom, no yard light from the driveway. Icy winters in canadas past and future air worldwide.
Jan 05, 2018 the 1998 ice storm 20 years later 5 january, 2018 in blog the 1998 ice storm was a defining moment in my life and the lives of many others in ontario, quebec and new brunswick. A pedestrian makes her way past downed trees as an ice storm. This storm is one of the most destructive ice storms in the history of canada and the northeastern united states. The north american ice storm of 1998 also known as great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms which combined to strike a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec to nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states, in january 1998. Chilling memories of crippling 1998 ice storm ctv news. The north american ice storm of 1998 also known as great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms in january 1998 that struck a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec, new brunswick and nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states. Today, pictures of streets with literally everything coated in 10 cmthick ice are beautiful and almost ethereal, but the realities of the storm were quite different for many canadians. Ice storms are common on the east coast of the us and canada. Ice storm leaves canada with massive power outages, fatalities. Lawrence valley from kingston to quebecs eastern townships received up to 100 mm of ice pellets and freezing rain more than double the icy precipitation normally received in those areas in a whole year.
Impacts and consequences of the ice storm of 1998 for the. Pin by melinda williams on the ice storm of 1994 in the. In canada severe ice storms have been recorded in ottawa in december 1986 and in montreal in february 1961 environment canada 1998. York, northern new england and southeast canada due to the prolonged.
Ice storm set to continue hour after hour in thunder bay. Hundreds of thousands still in the dark as ice storm moves. Heres how to prepare for an ice storm and stay safe. The 1998 ice storm 20 years later 5 january, 2018 in blog. The event is widely acknowledged to be canadas costliest natural disaster and was the most severe ice storm to hit the region since at least the 1920s.
It was as environment canada aptly called it at years end the ice storm of the century. He continues to work at the gazette as a features writer. Aerial reconnaissance was carried out between january 19 and. The 1998 ice storm was a defining moment in my life and the lives of many others in ontario, quebec and new brunswick. A unique database, featured in the nature unleashed exhibition, reveals the impacts of canadas natural disasters. Ice storm leaves canada with massive power outages, fatalities at least five dead in road accidents and more than 440,000 households experience a blackout days before christmas ap. For six days in january 1998, freezing rain coated ontario, quebec and new brunswick with 711 cm 34 in of ice. Several data sets are examined, including a regional damage survey and. Some freezing rain is possible in the morning thursday, april 12, environment canada says. In fact, the troubles were far from over in many regions enduring the storm. Feb 24, 2014 canadian ice storm of 1998 unofficial news report. The north american ice storm of 1998 also known as great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms in january 1998 that struck a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec, new brunswick and nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine. Looking back on the 1998 ice storm 20 years later cbc news.
Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. The fatalities made it one of the worst natural disasters in canadian history. The ice storm of 1998 was one of the largest natural disasters in canadian history. Meteorological service of canada ontario region, environment canada. Ian burton is professor emeritus at the institute for environmental studies and the. Freezing rain warnings issued in southern ontario ahead of weekend winter storm.
About 2 million homes more than 5 million people were plunged into darkness for up to a month in the dead of winter. The storm resulted in the disruption of power and water supplies, public and health services, and emergency services were hindered by the lack of. What property, lifeline, economicconsequential loss and infrastructure. The january, 1998 ice storm took people by surprise, an unremarkable weather front that turned lethal when it stalled over the border country of northern new york and southeastern canada, dropping. The canadian ice services mission is to provide the most timely and accurate information about ice in canadas navigable waters. This was a reminder of the great and deadly ice storm exactly 19 years ago to the day, that swept through the region in 1998 it has been called one of the worst natural disasters in canadian history. By sunday afternoon, the storm had moved eastward but freezing rain was only expected to stop falling on the maritimes late in the day, environment canada said. I believe that this channel remained virtually unchanged from 1975 to 1999, before videon changed their weather. Ice storm 98 in southcentral canada and northeastern. The type of alert issued depends on the severity and timing of the event.
The north american ice storm of 1998 also known as great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms in january 1998 that struck a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec, new brunswick and nova scotia in canada, and. The infrastructure is generally prepared for the havoc these storms can wreak, but winter 1998 brought with it the most crippling ice storm in living memory. Remembering the 1998 ice storm in upstate new york and montreal. Jan 03, 2008 chilling memories of crippling 1998 ice storm. Remembering the 1998 ice storm in upstate new york and montreal duration. The great ice storm of 1998, by the numbers ottawa citizen. The ice storm led to the largest deployment of canadian military personnel since the korean war. Wind northeast 30 kmh gusting to 50 becoming northwest 30 gusting to 50 in the afternoon. A massive ice storm befell eastern canada in january 1998.
Ice storm likely, according to environment canada cbc news. January 1998 north american ice storm was one of the natural sciences good articles, but it has been removed from the list. At the canadian ice service cis, our mission is to provide the most timely and accurate information about ice in canada s navigable waters. Project ice storm was designed to study the effects of in utero exposure to varying levels of prenatal maternal stress pnms, resulting from an independent stressor on the childrens development from birth through childhood. The ice storm of 1998 was one of the largest natural disasters in. By 5 january 1998 it was clear eastern north america was in for a cold spell. There has never been a warmer year in the half century that environment canada. It challenged my sense of leadership like never before. As a result, we promote safe and efficient maritime operations and we help protect canada s environment. This book is the definitive story of the ice storm, captured in pictures by canadas best news photographers. Jan 04, 2018 quebecers still have vivid memories of 1998 ice storm. The north american ic e st orm of 1998 also known as gre a t ic e stor m of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller suc cessive ice stor ms in january 1998 that struck a relatively narrow swath of land from e astern ontario to southern quebec, new brunswick and nova sc otia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states. In a statement, prime minister justin trudeau pointed out that despite. A rhodes scholar at oxford, he has been a books columnist at the montreal gazette and winner of a national newspaper award for critical writing.
Environment canada issues freezing rain warning as ice. I survived the great ice storm of 1998 about facebook. In january 1998, the quebec ice storm left millions of people without electricity for up to 40 days. Jan 05, 2015 this massive 1998 ice storm left millions in the dark and claimed the lives of 35 people. Overall, power outages affected about 350,000 customers in ontario, as ice coated tree branches snapped and brought down power lines. Apr 11, 2018 york region could be slammed by a major ice storm this weekend, according to a special weather statement from environment canada that also says southern ontario is in the crosshairs of the system. Science and policy for sustainable development volume 41, 1999 issue 1. Starting late on january 4, 1998 and continuing for the next six days until january 10, 1998, freezing rain fell on eastern ontario, southwestern quebec, and southern new brunswick and nova scotia. This massive 1998 ice storm left millions in the dark and claimed the lives of 35 people. The studies presented in this report characterize the type of damage observed in rural forests within the storm footprint, defined by the aerial surveys. For some, the storm is reminiscent of the 1998 disaster that environment canada has dubbed the ice storm of the century, when 35 lives were claimed, millions of. Mark abley was born in england and grew up in western canada. Late on january 4, 1998, freezing rain began to fall in.
Ice storm of 1998 in ontario, quebec, and new brunswick. Environment canada senior climatologist david phillips, who spent much of the ice storm explaining the phenomenon to international media, says. The storm claimed as many as 35 lives, injured 945, and resulted in the. This year, its without a question, the ice storm of the century in eastern canada the most destructive and disruptive storm in canadian history and for the five million people affected by the storm, their most unforgettable weather moment. Quebecers still have vivid memories of 1998 ice storm. It allowed me to marvel at the power of nature, really test my survival skills in this modern age of comfort. A pedestrian makes his way past downed branches in west end ottawa on jan. Three months after it passed, statistics canada released a statistical portrait of this natural catastrophe. It wreaked havoc on this region for 6 days between january 4 and january 10 of 1998. Canadas worst winter storms of the past century cottage life.
The north american ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive. This is possibily the most watched channel in winnipeg, as it was shown in 1998. David etkin is a meteorologist in the atmospheric environment service of environment canada. Emergency appropriation was signed in may 1998 to fund damage assessment and recovery from the ice storm. Ice storm of 1998 still freezes out contenders for worst weather disaster in recent memory. There are just too many factors involved to be certain. The great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms from eastern ontario to southern quebec to nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states. Quebecers still have vivid memories of 1998 ice storm ctv news.
These areas were pelted with 80 millimetres or more of freezing rain. Risk of freezing rain in the morning and early in the afternoon. The ice storm of 1998 was one of the worst natural disasters in canadian history. Saguenay flood and 1998 ice storm in ontario and quebec each. Environment canada weather channel april 20, 1998 youtube.
It was the most expensive natural disaster in canada. Ice storms are an inherent feature of winter weather. Canadian ice storm of 1998 unofficial news report youtube. See how it unfolded, and entered canada s cultural memory. It was unprecedented in terms of the number of individuals affected, the intensity of the freezing rain and the duration of the event. Ice storm, lethal weather, a public service information youtube. The january 1998 ice storm discussed in the next sectionstands as the most severe ice storm to hit canada in recent memory due to the thick ice accumulation, the storm s multiday duration and areal extent, and the population affected. The 1998 ice storm was rated by environment canada as the worst natural disaster of the 20th century. Mrnfp forest damage caused by the storm of january 1998 3 introduction on january 15, 1998, following the ice storm, the ministere des ressources naturelles du quebec announced that it would proceed quickly with a preliminary assessment of the damage caused to the forest.
The ice storm in montreal is one of the canadas most famous. Looking back on the 1998 ice storm 20 years later quebec turned into a crystal wonderland when freezing rain turned to ice, but that ice took down trees and power lines, depriving millions of. Could an ice storm similar to that which paralyzed montreal wreak havoc on toronto, boston, new york city, buffalo, detroit, cleveland, chicago, minneapolis andor st. Prior to the ice storm, a lowpressure weather system over the texas panhandle had pumped moist, warm air. Pdf psychosocial impact of the 1998 quebec ice storm. An ice storm during winter characterized by freezing rain with a temperature below freezing at 32f. What made the ice storm so unusual though was that it just wouldnt end. Montreal ice storm 1998 photos courtesy of ncordia.
Ice storm of 1998 still freezes out contenders for worst. Public weather alerts for canada environment canada. Trees and hydro wires fell and utility poles and transmission towers came down causing massive power outages, some for as long as a month. Environment canada has issued several warnings as a southern quebec ice storm is expected later today both a rainfall warning and a freezing rain.
Following the theatrical exhibition of the ice storm, the film was made available on home video by 20th century fox home entertainment on october, 1998. A unique database, featured in the nature unleashed exhibition, reveals the impacts of canada s natural disasters. In addition to the text for the bestselling photographic book the ice storm 1998, he has written two books of poetry, one travel. Environment canada sent investigators to lachute, a town 85. Canada border pulled together by amassing communal stores of firewood and supplies. Project ice storm projet verglas mcgill university.
Damaging ice storm gis damaging ice storm geographic information system click image below for data. We work to promote safe and efficient maritime operations and to help protect canadas environment. Cleanup underway after severe storm with heavy winds rips through. At least twentyfive people died in the areas affected by the ice, primarily from hypothermia, according to environment canada. Apr 24, 2015 i chose to research the great northeastern ice storm of 1998 because i think the danger of ice storms is often underestimated. Top ten weather stories for 1998 environment and climate.
According to environment canada, the ice storm of 1998 directly affected more people than any other previous weather event in canadian history. Current conditions and forecasts including 7 day outlook, daily highlow temperature, warnings, chance of precipitation, pressure, humiditywind chill when applicable historical data, normals, record values and sunrisesunset times. Environment canada officials expected inclement, uneven weather to. When severe weather threatens, environment canada issues alerts that notify those in affected areas so that they can take steps to protect themselves and their property from harm. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the good article criteria. Extreme cold weather blankets parts of canada duration. Study prepared for the office of critical infrastructure protection and emergency preparedness, ottawa. Just a thin coating of ice can result in a travel nightmare, and heavier amounts will severely damage trees and power lines. Before this month would end, much of northern vermont, new york, new hampshire and maine, as well as the canadian provinces of quebec, ontario and new brunswick, would have experienced what has popularly been called the great ice storm of 1998. Montreal this month marks the 15th anniversary of the 1998 ice storm, which remains the most expensive disaster in canadas history and the one that affected the most people. January 1998 was a month of exceptions in more ways than one. Event overview a catastrophic ice storm and flood event struck northern new england and northern new york during the first two weeks of january 1998.