I chose to research the great northeastern ice storm of 1998 because i think the danger of ice storms is often underestimated. It was the most devastating and least ferocious of canadian. Similar to this storm and as is similar in many weather systems that affect southern ontario the ice storm of 1998 began in texas. January 1998 north american ice storm was one of the natural sciences good articles, but it has been removed from the list. An evaluation of the severity of the january 1998 ice storm in northern new england. The documentary reconstructs the great 1998 ice storm that destroyed power grids across northern new york, quebec, and northern new england. In the ice storm of 1998, there were more than 80 hours of freezing rain, nearly double the annual average. I survived the great ice storm of 1998 about facebook. The ice storm of 1998 came with no howling winds, no torrents of floodwater, no seismic convulsions, not even a clap of thunder. The film goes on to explore an effort twenty years later to build a new kind of grid, a microgrid, designed to withstand future disasters.
The ice storm of 1998 came with no howling winds, no torrents of. There are suggestions below for improving the article to meet the good article criteria. Lessons learned from 1998 ice storm mountain lake pbs. Following a major storm in which there has been a loss of life or extensive damage, a service assessment team may be assigned by the nws to provide an objective appraisal of products and services, and to make findings and recommendations for improving the service. Prior to the 1998 storm, the last major ice storm to hit montreal 1961. I didnt live in the areas affected at the time, but i want to share stories from those who did, or who were sent there to help with relief efforts. The severity of ice storms depends largely on the accumulation of ice. Ottawas devastating 1998 ice storm, told in compelling. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. He was in the eastern ontario town to hand out plaques honouring those who.
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. Rediscovering the prairies, 1986, and the text for ottmar bierwagen s photographic book heartland 1989. The 1998 ice storm was rated by environment canada as the worst natural disaster of the 20th century. About 2 million homes more than 5 million people were plunged into darkness for up to a month in the dead of winter. Hundreds of thousands still in the dark as ice storm moves east. On january 8, ontario, quebec, and new brunswick declared a state. This book is part of the disaster strikes series by penny draper.
During the early of january in 1998, three consecutive ice storms devastated eastern canada. The north american ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive. It may be freezing in ontario and quebec right now, but nothing compares to the power of the 1998 ice storm that shut down parts of both provinces. Remembering the 1998 ice storm in upstate new york and montreal duration. In january 1998, five days of freezing rain, up to 100 millimetres, fe. I survived the great ice storm of 1998 home facebook. People who lost power in ontario, quebec and the northeastern united states. The ice storm of 1998 was one of the largest natural disasters in canadian history. There were 22 in quebec, four in ontario, nine in u. Opinion in quebec, ice storm isnt time for politics. An evaluation of the severity of the january 1998 ice. Former ontario premier mike harris talks with reporters in maxville, ont. The raw power of nature displayed by the ice storm which paralyzed south eastern ontario, quebec and parts of the northern u.
Trees and power lines were knocked down, streets and sidewalks were coated with ice, and thousands of canadians found themselves facing the winter chill without power. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. These 20 pictures of the 1998 montreal ice storm are. Such a team was assembled to survey the ice storm and flood of january 1998. Farmers look back on the 1998 ontario and quebec ice storm. Pregnancy stress during 1998 ice storm linked to genetic changes in children after birth, study suggests open this photo in gallery. The 1998 ice storm was a defining moment in my life and the lives of many others in ontario, quebec and new brunswick. The remarkable ice storm that brought life to a standstill in most of eastern ontario and quebec in january had a huge impact on medical services. Ontarioquebec and most recently, in january 1998, from the maritime.
Remembering the ice storm of 1998 north of the border all in. National weather service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least 0. Twenty years ago, nearly 5 million canadians in southeastern quebec, eastern ontario and parts of the maritimes were battered by three successive waves of freezing rain between jan. A pedestrian makes her way past downed trees as an ice storm. This past winter, we had a pretty nasty ice storm that left many without power for days where we currently live, and it gave me a new appreciation for the events of 1998. 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. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. It wreaked havoc on this region for 6 days between january 4 and january 10 of 1998.
This storm is one of the most destructive ice storms in the history of canada and the northeastern united states. In ontario many homes are heated using natural gas furnaces that heat water or air to be. The storm claimed as many as 35 lives, injured 945, and resulted in the temporary displacement of 600,000 people. The area covered was massive, extending from kitchener, ontario through quebec to new brunswick and nova scotia, and also covering parts of new york and new england.
It challenged my sense of leadership like never before. Deaths, by fire, hypothermia, falling ice and carbon monoxide poisoning. Looking back on the 1998 ice storm 20 years later cbc news. One of nick thurlers barns collapsed during the storm. Ontario, quebec and new brunswick, canada for six days in january 1998, freezing rain coated ontario, quebec and new brunswick with 711 cm 34 in of ice. The 1998 ice storm 20 years later 5 january, 2018 in blog. Ice storms are an inherent feature of winter weather. Lawrence valley from kingston to quebec s 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. The lowhanging power lines at the casselman exit, 50 km east of ottawa, kept dozens of trucks at bay for hours. Impacts and consequences of the ice storm of 1998 for the. Ice storms are a major hazard in all parts of canada except the north, but are especially common from ontario to newfoundland. The same weather system has coated other parts of ontario, quebec. The total precipitation from the storms totalled 80 mm or more.
From january 4 to 10, 1998, the north american ice storm affected atlantic canada, southern quebec, eastern ontario, northern new york and northern new england. The great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms from eastern ontario to southern quebec. Between january 4 and 10, 1998, parts of eastern ontario and quebec were hit by three storms. Ice storm 98 page 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. 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. On january 7, ontario, quebec, and new brunswick called on the help of the. An ice storm is a type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain, also known as a glaze event or, in some parts of the united states, as a silver thaw. A series of hydro towers high voltage towers near marelville, ontario saturday that collapsed after a severe ice storm hit eastern ontario in this jan. About 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.
January 1998 north american ice storm news newspapers books. The following facts provided by environment canada bear witness to that. Ice storm 1998 military history library valour canada. A pedestrian makes his way past downed branches in west end ottawa on jan. Ice storm of 1998 in ontario, quebec, and new brunswick. In addition to the text for the bestselling photographic book the ice storm 1998, he has written two books of poetry, one travel book beyond forget. The canadian ice storm of 1998 about the ice storm of 1998 january 510, 1998 location. Two decades ago, an ice storm pummelled parts of eastern ontario and quebec, leaving many residents without power and requiring military assistance. Hospitals that lost power found themselves serving as shelters not only for patients but also for staff members and nearby residents. He lives with his wife and two daughters in pointe claire, quebec. The north american 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. This book is the definitive story of the ice storm, captured in pictures by canadas best news photographers. Bergman, brian, and mark nichols, and anthony wilsonsmith, and brenda branswell, and darcy jenish, and alec ross, and danylo hawaleshka, and luke fisher, great ice storm of 1998.
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