On Monday, December 29, 2025, Casselman, Ont., faces a risk of freezing rain and ice pellets that could make Highway 417 and local roads dangerously slick and increase the risk of damage to power lines.
In its Dec. 27 update Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for the area, warning of prolonged periods of freezing rain. The Weather Network’s 14-day forecast for Casselman includes ice pellets during the same period, indicating that ice pellets are possible.
Hydro Ottawa — the utility that distributes electricity to Casselman — said it is monitoring the forecast and that crews will focus on maintaining grid reliability if ice accretion occurs. The Municipality of Casselman says it is prepared to deploy plows and salt trucks on main arteries such as Principale Street; however, a municipal release confirming specific pre-treatment of streets should be obtained before asserting it has already taken place.
Officials urge residents to check road conditions with the Ontario Provincial Police and to watch for any school- or childcare-related messages from local boards or Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO) before travelling. Environment Canada and local authorities also advise preparing emergency supplies and limiting non-essential travel during the morning commute if hazardous conditions develop.
Casselman sits within the area known as the ‘Black Triangle’ that was hardest hit by the 1998 North American ice storm, a historical precedent that heightens local concern. The April 5, 2023 ice storm is a more recent reminder of the risk: that event caused widespread outages numbering in the tens and hundreds of thousands across Quebec and Ontario, underscoring the potential for major disruption from significant ice accretion.
