London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 04, 2026

Lake houses don't even look real after being covered in ice during winter storm

Lake houses don't even look real after being covered in ice during winter storm

Crystal Beach in Canada is truly living up to its name as a massive winter storm last week left it coated in ice.


The lakefront community in Fort Erie, Ontario, is close to the border of New York city Buffalo which has been especially battered by the blizzard.

Looking like it was straight out of the Disney film Frozen, Crystal Beach has been dusted by snow and ice, blanketing rooftops, windows, sheds and cars.

Province officials have issued a weather warning due to the powerfully frigid winds and piles upon piles of snow.

Nearly 15,000 Fort Erie residents were left without power over the weekend, with a December 26 update from Canadian Niagara Power saying nearly 4,000 people are still without electricity.

The gusts have proved so intense that they threw water onto a row of buildings sitting on the lakefront.

Lake water was splashed onto the houses by the wind

The lakefront houses were completely crystalised by the ice

Residents are worried, however, about the water pooling when it melts


Resident Derek Tupling told CTV News Toronto on Tuesday: ‘(The waves) were coming up over the break wall. They were probably 10, 15 feet high, up above the break wall.

‘Then the water has frozen up the backsides of the houses, so from the tops of the houses all the way down.

‘So, you can just imagine the sheer volume and strength of water coming up over the wall to hit it and then freeze – flash freeze – immediately. It’s absolutely incredible.’

Tupling said the ice on the backs of the home is at least a foot thick, raising fears of the pooling water that could follow when it thaws.

‘We’ve been here for a long time and have never seen weather as bad as that over that period of time,’ he added.

‘The damage that’s been caused and the destruction on the backsides of these houses of where we are now is unbelievable.’

The icy phenomena were down to a severe winter storm sweeping across Canada and the US

The ice clung to almost every part of the properties

Everything from Niagara Falls to lighthouses has been frozen by the big chill


Many Crystal Beach locals were left in disbelief waking up to the whiteout conditions – and they certainly weren’t alone.

Tourists were stunned to see the mighty Niagara Falls had almost frozen solid due to the cold, while the deep freeze iced a lighthouse into a sculpture.

Though this has all come with a heavy price.

The death toll from the brutal bomb cyclone – an uncommon yet powerful winter storm – has reached more than 60/

Officials have said the storm, which collided with the region on December 23 and lasted roughly 36 hours, is one of the worst in recent memory.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Government Consults International Partners on Maritime Trade Security and Energy Market Stability
Rare Revolutionary-Era Documents Discovered by UK Archives and Undergoing Authentication
UK Consumer Confidence Remains Deep in Negative Territory as Household Spending Stays Cautious
Transport for London Warns of Severe Disruption as Major Events Converge in Central London
NHS and Social Care Sectors Face Ongoing Recruitment Shortages Amid Persistent Workforce Gaps
Rising Energy Costs Drive Price Pressures Across UK Retail and Service Sectors
Competition and Markets Authority Expands Review of Artificial Intelligence Impact on UK Media Markets
UK Parliamentary Committees Intensify Scrutiny of National Security and Industrial Policy Legislation
Bank of England Faces Persistent Inflation Pressure as Rate Cut Expectations Fade
UK Public Finances Under Pressure as Borrowing Exceeds Forecast and Debt Nears 95% of GDP
Major Police Deployment Across Central London as Mass Demonstrations and Pride Parade Converge
Large-Scale Police Dispersal Powers Activated in Liverpool Ahead of Anti-Immigration Protests and Counter-Demonstrations
Luxury bags take over the World Cup: style, status symbol, or just showing off?
National Productivity Institute Highlights Weak Business Investment Outside Southern England
UK High Court Orders Reassessment of Environmental Impact in Major Highway Project
UK Cyber Security Centre Warns of Rising Threat From State-Sponsored Digital Espionage
UK Education Secretary Launches National Reform of Apprenticeships and Vocational Training
Financial Conduct Authority Tightens Climate Risk Disclosure Requirements for Listed Firms
Rail Union Suspends Planned Strike Action to Enter Formal Negotiations With Operators
Northern Ireland Businesses Seek Clarity Over Post-Brexit Trade Rules
Welsh Government Launches Regional Growth Plan Targeting Transport and Digital Infrastructure
North Sea Wind Sector Attracts £5 Billion Investment Amid Expansion of Offshore Capacity
Scotland and UK Governments Establish New Framework for Coordinated Investment in Energy and Infrastructure
UK Government Launches Major Immigration and Border Policy Overhaul Review
Bank of England Signals Interest Rates to Remain Elevated Despite Easing Inflation Pressures
National Health Service Warns of Severe Winter Capacity Strain Across Hospital Trusts
Chancellor Orders Urgent Treasury Review Amid Concerns Over Structural Public Finance Gap
Prime Minister Unveils Sweeping Legislative Programme Focused on Housing, Health Service Reform and State Energy Plan
UK Parliamentary Committee Launches Inquiry Into Falling Primary School Rolls and Public Service Impact
UK House of Lords Debates Electoral Commission Powers and Political Finance Reform
UK Parliament Considers Expanding Carbon Rules to International Aviation and Shipping Emissions
UK Traffic Commissioner Revokes Hampshire Haulage Operator Licence Over Regulatory Failures
UK Parliament Examines Risks in Public Contracts Awarded to Technology Firm Palantir
UK Competition Watchdog Moves Toward More Flexible Merger Rules to Support Efficiency and Growth
UK Government Seeks Approval for £1.15 Trillion Public Spending Plan Amid Scrutiny Over Department Budgets
UK Parliament Debates Sweeping National Security and Steel Industry Nationalisation Bills
UK Government Issues Formal Apology for Historic Forced Adoption Practices and Announces £4 Million Support Scheme
UK DEFENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY TILTS TOWARD SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY AND INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT
UK ECONOMIC POLICY OUTLOOK SHAPED BY LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND FISCAL SIGNALS
STERLING STRENGTHENS AMID SHIFTING MONETARY OUTLOOK AND GLOBAL LABOUR MARKET SIGNALS
UK HPV VACCINATION PROGRAM NEARLY ELIMINATES CERVICAL CANCER DEATH RISK IN YOUNG WOMEN
UK EXPANDS PRISON SAFETY REVIEW AS GOVERNMENT SEEKS WIDER SYSTEM REFORM
UK DRIVES DIGITAL ASSETS STRATEGY WITH NEW STABLECOIN REGULATORY MODEL
UK TO EXPAND AI INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH NEW EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
UK LAUNCHES £15 BILLION DEFENCE TECH SHIFT TOWARD ADVANCED MILITARY SYSTEMS
CIVIL SERVICE FACES SHIFT IN POWER STRUCTURE AS REGIONAL GOVERNANCE PLANS EXPAND
WHITEHALL CONSIDERS MAJOR DECENTRALISATION PLAN WITH SECOND GOVERNMENT HUB IN MANCHESTER
UK TARGETS SERVICES EXPORT GROWTH IN TRADE TALKS WITH CHINA AMID GEOPOLITICAL TENSIONS
POLICE WATCHDOG PROBES OFFICERS OVER HANDCUFFING OF DYING TEENAGER IN HAMPSHIRE CASE
UK REGULATORS UNVEIL DUAL OVERSIGHT FRAMEWORK FOR STABLECOINS AND DIGITAL ASSETS
×