Environment Canada lists ice storm and wildfires among top weather events of the year

It comes as no surprise that the ice storm that crippled much of the province ranked among the most significant weather events of the year, according to Environment Canada.

The late-March storm came in at number five on the agency’s list of the most impactful weather events.

Many will remember the freezing rain that brought daily life to a standstill. Millions of homes and businesses across Ontario and Quebec were left without power as power lines collapsed. The buildup was extensive.

Environment Canada reports Barrie received 15 millimetres of freezing rain, while Orillia saw 19 millimetres. Tree branches, trunks and even early blossoms were encased in perfectly clear ice — striking to look at, but devastating in its wake.

Trees came crashing down onto homes, vehicles and roadways, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Cleanup efforts stretched on for months, and states of emergency were declared in several communities. At the height of the storm, nearly 400,000 Hydro One customers were without power, with the utility calling it Ontario’s worst ice storm since 1998.

Environment Canada described the event as “an incredible amount of freezing rain over an extended period of time,” creating widespread challenges for cleanup crews.

Also making the list was a trio of February snowstorms that blanketed central Ontario, ranking sixth overall. Snowfall was so persistent that school bus cancellations became almost routine.

Several school boards were forced to close entirely, and police in some areas urged residents to stay home unless travel was absolutely necessary.

Topping the list as the number one weather event of the year was Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record. Fires flared during prolonged stretches of hot, dry and windy conditions. Widespread drought left forests and vegetation extremely dry, fueling the intensity and spread of the blazes.

Nationwide, approximately 75,000 people were forced from their homes. Environment Canada says that in terms of area burned, 2025 ranked second only to the unprecedented wildfire season of 2023.

Environment Canada notes these events raise ongoing questions about how climate change is reshaping weather patterns across the country.