[gardeners] The Freezing Rain Warning Has Ended
Marianne Lepa (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Fri, 09 Jan 1998 20:56:29 -0500
Thank god.
The freezing rain warning for most of eastern Ontario has ended, the first
time it's been off here since Tuesday afternoon. We have a weekend of
flurries and then more freezing rain is anticipated for Monday.
Eastern Ontario and Quebec has been devestated by ice rain for the last 4
or 5 days. In my area we escaped the earlier storms, but were visited by
this last round that started on Wednesday night. I was very lucky to be at
the western-most end of the warned area and have come through virtually
unscathed. I took a little drive this afternoon, and, starting just 5 miles
to the east of me, it looks like there's been a war. The further east I
drove the worse it got. Large trees are completely denuded of branches, on
some the branches have broken and torn away, ripping large strips of bark
along the length of the trunk. Smaller trees are uprooted and down over
power lines, fences and barns. Even the smallest twig is carrying an inch
or more of ice on it. The power is out for most people, out in the country
they've been told to expect no power until at least the middle of next
week, maybe longer.
I've been keeping in touch by phone with friends in the city of Kingston.
They have been told not to expect their power back until possibly Sunday.
I've heard estimates that over 40 percent of the trees in the worst hit
areas will be lost. Kingston, Ottawa and Montreal are heavily treed cities,
much of their charm comes from these old and stately maples and oaks. It's
unbearably tragic.
Marianne
Southeastern Ontario AgCan zone 5b