A major storm bringing
freezing rain
to Ottawa cancelled school buses and had public utilities warning of possible power outages Wednesday.
The storm was expected to last for “prolonged” periods according to Environment Canada, and could lead to as much as 10 mm to 20 mm of ice build up over the course of the day.
In an “orange warning” of expected freezing rain conditions, the weather service cautioned the public to stay home if possible, and to avoid any unnecessary travel.
School buses were cancelled for the four major boards within the city, and the two boards outside the city.
Ottawa Student Transportation said buses were not running for the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, and Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. Schools remained open.
Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario cancelled buses from the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and the Upper Canada District School Board.
Ottawa Hydro crews were on standby to handle any power outages, spokesperson Susan Fekete said. She encouraged Ottawans to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit that should include flashlights, medication, water, non-perishable food and fresh batteries.
Residents can report outages on the Hydro Ottawa app or by texting “OUT” to 797688. They can also call 613-738-0188.
Freezing rain and ice accumulation can bring down power lines. If you spot a downed or damaged line, stay back! It may still be live and dangerous.
Stay 10 metres away and call 911 immediately, then call us at 613-738-0188.
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La pluie verglaçante et l’accumulation de glace… pic.twitter.com/jxW6HvusBv
— Hydro Ottawa (@hydroottawa) March 10, 2026
“The safety of our customers and employees is Hydro Ottawa’s top priority. While crews are prepared to face the elements, the public’s patience is requested as icy road conditions may impact travel times for restoration teams,” Fekete said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. “If outages occur, crews will work diligently to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”
The City of Ottawa officially declared a “significant weather event,” suspending its usual timelines for getting roads and sidewalks clear. This means it will likely take longer than normal to get roads and sidewalks cleared, particularly those not on major routes.
“Please exercise caution when using city sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network. Freezing rain will make surfaces icy and could lead to power outages,” the city said. “Please prepare accordingly and avoid unnecessary travel.”
OC Transpo said delays were likely across the bus and ParaTranspo network, according to a memo from the city’s interim head of transit, Troy Charter.
“Road conditions may impact traffic across the city and, as a result, it is possible customers may experience longer travel times. Some trips will be removed from the schedule to maintain priority trips. Customers who have to travel should use real-time travel tools, like the Transit app, to plan their trip in advance,” Charter wrote.
Trains, meanwhile were expected to run as normal. Line 1 would run every four or five minutes during peak periods, he wrote. Trains were being equipped with special pantographs — the part of the train that connects to the overhead power lines — to help reduce ice build up. Rideau Transit Maintenance, the private consortium in charge of maintaining the rail line, was also using de-icing fluid along the wires.
“The number of trains in operation may be adjusted to help mitigate ice buildup on the overhead wires and tracks,” Charter wrote.
“Across the O-Train network, our maintainers, Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) and TransitNext, are deploying resources to respond to this severe weather. Maintenance staff will be focused on limiting ice buildup on station and track infrastructure, such as switches, platforms, and high-traffic pedestrian areas.”
Lines 2 and 4 were operating on a normal schedule.
City libraries were closed because of the weather until at least noon. The Ottawa Public Library said it would assess conditions as the day progressed and decide whether to open branches at all.
“The safety of our clients and employees is our top priority,” the library said in a public notice. “We will reassess weather conditions tomorrow morning to determine if we will reopen for the afternoon.”
Holds and returns at the library were extended by one day.
— With files from Paula Tran
