Emergency crews are dealing with power outages all over Simcoe County this afternoon.
In Innisfil, additional InnPower crews have been called in due to widespread issues and they continue to patrol and isolate damage so restoration can be completed. InnPower officials are asking people to be patient.
InnPower expected power to be restored for approximately 3,200 customers at 6 p.m. However, there will be other pockets where damages will need to be repaired before power can be restored.
South Simcoe police has issued an advisory due to multiple traffic lights not working, as well as downed trees and hydro wires blocking roads. Motorists are urged to treat downed traffic lights as four-way stops and practise extreme caution while driving.
In Barrie, close to 10,000 Alectra customers are without electricity this afternoon, according to the local power utility.
Alectra is reporting close to 8,600 customers without power in the southeast end of town, including the areas around Yonge Street, Mapleview Drive East, Big Bay Point Road, Country Lane, Dock Road, Hurst Drive, Minet's Point Road, and Prince William Way.
There is also an outage around the Allandale area that is affecting another 1,300 customers. Some of the streets affected include Bayview Drive, Burton Avenue, Cumberland Street, Dunlop Street West, Essa Road, Innisfil Street, and Lakeshore Drive.
A third outage is also affecting 132 customers in a north-end neighbourhood around Alliance Boulevard, Cundles Road, and St. Vincent Street.
Emergency crews and hydro personnel are responding to several calls around the city.
The problems are under investigation and there is no estimated time when power could be restored.
Hydro One is also reporting approximately 5,700 customers without power north of Barrie around Craighurst and Horseshoe Valley. Crews have been dispatched and power is expected to be restored around 6 p.m. There is also another outage affecting around 2,800 customers in the Elmvale area.
Environment Canada issued a weather alert on Sunday calling for winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour in the Barrie area, including Collingwood, Hillsdale, Orillia, Lagoon City, and Washago.
The strengthening low-pressure system was expected to track across northeastern Ontario, with winds strengthening throughout the day.
"The highest winds are expected to be ushered in with the passage of a cold front late this afternoon, where southwest winds gusting up to 80 km/h are forecast," according to the alert. "Local power outages are possible. Strong winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break."
Winds are expected to ease by Monday morning.
Due to high call volumes and outages across its territory, Alectra says it may not be able to answer your call right away.
To report a power outage, hazard or electrical emergency, click here.
Emergency crews are also handling outages elsewhere around Simcoe County.
In Clearview Township, Fire Chief Roree Payment says nearly all crews busy with wires down calls throughout the township.
"A reminder that downed wires should be treated as live wires and driving over them or getting out to move them could prove fatal," he said in a tweet around 4 p.m.
