Flights cancelled as freezing rain, blizzard conditions wallop Eastern Canada

A major winter storm hit Eastern Canada on December 29, 2025, bringing freezing rain, snow and ice pellets across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Orange weather alerts were issued for much of the region, with up to 15mm of ice accretion expected in Montreal and Ottawa areas. Blizzard conditions with whiteout visibility affected Northern Ontario including Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins, where 17cm of snow fell. Environment Canada warned of winds up to 140km/h in northern Nova Scotia. Over 60 flights were delayed at Toronto Pearson airport while Montreal Trudeau airport saw 12% of flights affected. Via Rail cancelled morning trains on the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. Power outages affected thousands across Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Emergency services reported increased calls for falls on icy surfaces, particularly in Montreal where Urgences-santé received over 100 calls per hour.