Why do my lights flicker during a storm?

Lights flickering during storms is typically caused by power grid fluctuations as Hydro Ottawa's electrical system responds to weather conditions like wind, rain, and lightning strikes affecting power lines and transformers.

When storms hit Ottawa, several factors can cause your lights to flicker. Wind is often the primary culprit - it causes tree branches to sway into power lines, creating momentary interruptions or voltage drops. Even without direct contact, swaying lines can cause brief power fluctuations that manifest as flickering lights throughout your home.

Lightning strikes are another major cause, even when they don't hit power infrastructure directly. Lightning can create electromagnetic pulses that affect the electrical grid, causing protective equipment to briefly disconnect and reconnect circuits. Hydro Ottawa's system includes automatic reclosers - devices designed to quickly restore power after temporary faults - which can cause a series of brief outages that appear as flickering.

Heavy rain and ice can also contribute to flickering by weighing down power lines, causing them to sag and potentially make contact with trees or other objects. In winter storms, ice accumulation on lines creates additional stress and can cause intermittent contact issues.

From a safety perspective, occasional flickering during storms is generally normal and not dangerous to your home's electrical system. However, you should be concerned if you notice frequent or severe flickering when there's no storm, burning smells, or if lights dim significantly when large appliances turn on. These could indicate problems with your electrical panel, loose connections, or issues with your service entrance that require immediate attention from a licensed electrician.

What you can do during storm-related flickering:

• Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from power surges


• Keep flashlights and battery-powered devices charged


• Avoid using major appliances during severe flickering


• If flickering is accompanied by burning smells or sparking, shut off your main breaker and call for emergency electrical service

If your lights flicker frequently even during calm weather, this could indicate issues with your electrical panel, loose connections, or problems with your home's wiring that need professional diagnosis. Electrical Ottawa provides 24/7 emergency service for Ottawa residents experiencing electrical issues that pose safety concerns.

For widespread outages affecting your neighborhood, report them to Hydro Ottawa at 613-738-6400 or through their online outage map.