High winds boost generation output
ONTARIO - The blustery weather of the last two days has pushed Ontario's wind-power output into record territory.
As of 9 p.m. October 26, the province hit an all-time high for hourly wind power output, cranking out 1,056 megawatts of electricity.
That is normally the amount of electricity generated by two nuclear reactor units at the Pickering generating station, which produce 515 megawatts at any given time. The province's wind output also trumped its coal-fired electricity output on October 25.
Ontario's wind output is usually negligible, reported CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss.
Environment Canada started the day with wind warnings for most of most of southern Ontario.
The warning for the GTA was lifted at 3:17 p.m. on October 27. At 4 p.m., Environment Canada reported wind speeds of 48 kilometres per hour, with busts to 61 km/h.
The relatively balmy temperature of 19 degrees Celsius meant some Toronto windsurfing enthusiasts hit the water during the afternoon.
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