Christmas ice storm in Canada
A massive storm swept across the Midwest and parts of Canada yesterday, encasing everything in thick ice, downing trees and power lines, and making travel nearly impossible just before Christmas. An estimated 500,000 people are without power today, as utility crews work to clear and repair the lines before the temperature drops even further in the coming days. Below are images of the storm's aftermath from Ontario and Quebec. [17 photos]
A layer of ice coats the leaves of a Japanese maple tree after an ice storm in Toronto, Ontario, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Chris Helgren) 
2A snowman after the ice storm in Ontario. Original here. (CC BY Angus Chan) #
3An ice-encased sign in Brampton, Ontario. Original here. (CC BY SA Ryan M. Gilchrist) #
4People walk past fallen ice-covered tree limbs along a road following an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013.(Reuters/Mark Blinch) #
5Tree branches encased in ice following an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Bob Strong) #
6Outdoor Christmas ornaments, following an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Bob Strong) #
7Warren Milne builds an igloo out of ice on his front lawn following an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013.(Reuters/Mark Blinch) #
8Icicles hang from a signal light and a street sign after freezing rain in Toronto, Ontario, on December 22, 2013.(Reuters/Hyungwon Kang) #
9An inflatable Santa Claus, deflated due to a power outage, after an ice storm hit Toronto, on December 22, 2013.(Reuters/Mark Blinch) #
10Berries encrusted in ice, during an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Gary Hershorn) #
11A woman's hair, blasted by the wind during a snowstorm in Quebec City, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Mathieu Belanger) #
12Tree branches encased in ice, following an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Bob Strong) #
13A bicycle is covered with ice after freezing rain in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Hyungwon Kang) #
14The tip of a tree branch encased in ice in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Bob Strong) #
15Cars drive by a fallen tree limb hanging from a power line following an ice storm in Toronto, on December 22, 2013.(Reuters/Mark Blinch) #
16Tree branches and leaves in Toronto, on December 22, 2013. (Reuters/Bob Strong) #
17After the ice storm in Toronto, December 22, 2013. [Scraping sounds in background] (Reuters/Gary Hershorn) #
