Two die in Orillia crash while high winds topple trees, cutting power for 50,000 people

ORILLIA, ONTARIO - More than 50,000 people across Ontario, from Georgian Bay to the fringes of Lake Ontario to northeast of Toronto, were without power as heavy winds, accompanied by freezing rain, pummelled the province.

From Windsor to Hamilton, winds gusting up to 80 km/h toppled trees and branches on to power lines causing many of the outages.

Despite the heavy rains that hammered Toronto all day yesterday, there were no major reports of electrical problems, said Toronto Hydro spokesperson Tanya Bruckmueller.

The GTA, especially in the northern region, was under an Environment Canada freezing rain warning yesterday as an intense weather system moved up from the United States.

Two people died near Orillia when their station wagon collided on the curve of a slushy road with a tractor-trailer loaded with gravel.

But the U.S. Midwest bore the brunt of the snowstorm.

In Toronto, the Don River became swollen with the deluge.

"The Don is higher than normal but (we) don't expect there will be a problem with the DVP," said city spokesman Steve Johnston.

City officials had no plans to close the Don Valley Parkway or the Bayview Extension.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority sent out a high-water safety bulletin and officials warn that people, especially children, should stay away from fast-flowing rivers and streams.

The areas around Toronto have been hammered by winds gusting up to 80 km/h and freezing rain and snow.

"We have over 50,000 customers without power," said Hydro One representative Daffyd Roderick. "Freezing rain and high winds are two things the distribution system just hates."

Customers from Barrie and Penetanguishene to Perth and Ottawa are experiencing outages.

"We have been preparing for this all today so we are staffed up," Roderick said.

In the city, meanwhile, winds of up to 50 km/h made walking conditions difficult and also knocked out traffic lights throughout the city.