Slideshow: 16 weirdly beautiful pictures from last weekend’s ice storm
Slideshow: 16 weirdly beautiful pictures from last weekend’s ice storm
By Steve Kupferman | December 23, 2013
By Steve Kupferman | 12/23/2013
(Image: Twitter/@tailormann )
This weekend’s ice storm caused widespread power outages and property damage, but there’s no denying that it was also, in a way, beautiful. Torontonians are used to catastrophic snowstorms, but this rare bout of heavy freezing rain left the whole city looking as though it had been encased in crystal. Many of those who weren’t huddled under mountains of blankets at home were out with their smartphones and cameras, taking pictures of all the weirdly pretty destruction. Here, a gallery of some of the best of those photos, culled from Twitter and Instragram.
See all 16 photos »
252437 The Twitter user who posted this shot captioned it: "the most Canadian thing ever to happen." (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/tailormann/status/414941448933367808">@tailormann</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-1.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-1/ toronto-ice-storm-1 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@tailormann )
252442 Muppets were not made to withstand this kind of weather. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/glasneronfilm/status/414793891871600641">@glasneronfilm</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-4.jpg 656 874 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-4/ toronto-ice-storm-4 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@glasneronfilm )
252443 Lots of people lost their favourite backyard trees (and, in some cases, their favourite backyard sheds/walls). (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/sarahmac/status/414788192621981698">@sarahmac</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-5.jpg 656 492 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-5/ toronto-ice-storm-5 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@sarahmac )
252444 The Twitter user who posted this photo says it was taken in Mount Pleasant. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/JohnGGeiger/status/414786922129534976">@JohnGGeiger</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-6.jpg 656 492 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-6/ toronto-ice-storm-6 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@JohnGGeiger )
252445 Sadly, Toronto's crosswalk buttons aren't heated. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/AdamCF/status/414786874964996097">@AdamCF</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-7.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-7/ toronto-ice-storm-7 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@AdamCF )
252446 This tree clearly hadn't reckoned with the possibility of freezing rain. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/StormhunterTWN/status/414785063113740288">@StormhunterTWN</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-8.jpg 656 489 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-8/ toronto-ice-storm-8 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@StormhunterTWN )
252447 A basketball net, coated. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/peterneal1/status/414783314470240256">@peterneal1</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-9.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-9/ toronto-ice-storm-9 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@peterneal1 )
252448 One upside to the storm was a bunch of really nice photos of ice-encased berries. (Image: Instagram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOrXWor0bZ/">andreakw_</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-10.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-10/ toronto-ice-storm-10 0 0
(Image: Instagram/andreakw_ )
252449 Probably just a scratch. (Image: Instagram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOrRONBFjU/">sisterc</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-11.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-11/ toronto-ice-storm-11 0 0
(Image: Instagram/sisterc )
252439 This car belongs to Brad Ross, the TTC's corporate communications director. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/bradTTC/status/414781336436502531">@BradTTC</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-3.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-3/ toronto-ice-storm-3 0 0
(Image: Twitter/@BradTTC )
252451 This one is probably going to have to spend some time at the body shop. (Image: Instagram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOlX-rH7Sl/">kmcz89</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-13.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-13/ toronto-ice-storm-13 0 0
(Image: Instagram/kmcz89 )
252450 Sunday was not a day for biking. (Image: Instagram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOuYHQD-wG/">realsammyt</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-12.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-12/ toronto-ice-storm-12 0 0
(Image: Instagram/realsammyt )
252452 It's for times like this that normal, non-serial-killing Torontonians own chainsaws. (Image: Instragram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOsrUxRkNO/">daveax</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-14.jpg 656 657 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-14/ toronto-ice-storm-14 0 0
(Image: Instragram/daveax )
252453 The lineup at a Toronto Home Depot. (Image: Instagram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOxr5krvxP/">lannyf</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-15.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-15/ toronto-ice-storm-15 0 0
(Image: Instagram/lannyf )
252454 And here's what the situation was like way above street level, at the Shangri-La Hotel. (Image: Instagram/<a href="http://instagram.com/p/iOjxhfK0jN/">deeruby</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-16.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-16/ toronto-ice-storm-16 0 0
(Image: Instagram/deeruby )
252438 This picture was taken in Forest Hill. (Image: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/sashisms/status/414781418875936768">sashisms</a>) Toronto Ice Storm https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/toronto-ice-storm-2.jpg 656 875 [] https://torontolife.com/city/pictures-toronto-ice-storm/slide/toronto-ice-storm-2/ toronto-ice-storm-2 0 0
(Image: Twitter/sashisms )
With all the trees getting destroyed, I was amazed to see this TREE HOUSE standing strong! http://www.tophousesforsaleintoronto.com/#!Toronto-Tree-House-Survives-Ice-Storm/cllt/FF8F6792-3F78-4B6D-AE16-FD1EF1B0E66F