12,500 LEFT POWERLESS ACROSS MUSKOKA AFTER FIRST SNOWFALL OF SEASON THURSDAY
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — The wakeup call came in the middle of the night when electronics and lights signalled the first snowfall of fall.
Residents and business owners were left scratching their heads as to how on Day 1 power outages could happen with the first downfall of snow this early into the far too-soon approaching winter.
With a foot of wet snow in Bracebridge, plows easily doubled the height as they built up banks not seen in more than half a year.
And leaving motorists spinning their wheels up and down hills and trying free themselves from slushy intersections and parking lots.
A winter storm that few were forewarned of on their phones was approaching more than a few hours ahead by only a ‘weather alert.’
Some 30 to 50 centimetres (a foot or more) of snow began falling overnight much of Muskoka, leaving a slushy dampness that hung around until late in the afternoon.
The brunt of the damage was north of Gravenhurst, which only suffered a brief outage after 3 a.m. and a few centimetres of buildup.
But across points north and west — including Bracebridge, Huntsville and Parry Sound — more than 12,500 homes and businesses were reportedly left powerless into the afternoon as wires and trees and branches came down causing unexpected chaos on local roads and in workplaces and schools.
The snow that turned to rain late in the morning again turned cold and came down around noon, making the drive home almost the same as the slow and difficult morning commutes.
Many school buses were cancelled at the first signs of snow or at least delayed.
Some schools were left powerless and students were stuck inside with indoor recesses and little learning — aside from an environmental lesson.
But all schools remained open for students who could walk or didn’t have to drive in — or those with parents or caregivers who could manage slippery road to get them to classeses.
A number of them without snow tires were on the phone booking appointments for the changeover.
“It was terrible,” said MuskokaTODAY.com’s Lois Cooper, who was in Bracebridge this afternoon to pick up her grandson from school.
She said many businesses without power were still closed at 5 p.m. and that the snow and rain were still falling heavy after that.
Lucky businesses with generators were able to provide hungry customers with meals and takeout for anyone heading to a home still without power tonight.
Heavy slush and snow led to several accidents on area highway as police called for snow plows.
Hydro crews were working into the night to restore power and expecting little sleep.
Fortunately for all the forecast is for 12 degrees C Friday, 17 Saturday and 19 Sunday.
And some have tee times booked two weeks after Thanksgiving.
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