Worst damage toll from an ice storm

The most damaging ice storm on record is the North American Ice Storm of 1998, which deposited as much as 5 inches (12.7 cm) of freezing rain over a large area of Quebec and Ontario in Canada, as well as northern New England in the USA. Heavy accumulations of ice brought down trees and power lines throughout the region, blocking roads and damaging property. Millions were left without power for as much as a month. The total cost of all the damage is thought to have reached more than $4.4 billion, of which $3 billion (CAN$4.3 billion) was in Canada, and $1.4 billion was in the USA.

An ice storm is a rare weather phenomenon characterized by a heavy fall of freezing rain. This happens when temperatures at high altitude remain above freezing, while temperatures close to sea level fall far below freezing. Precipitation forms as rain, but then becomes extremely cold while falling and freezes almost instantaneously on contact with the ground.