Eastern Ontario is waking up to two major stories today, Thursday, November 27, 2025: powerful winds knocking out electricity for thousands of Hydro One customers, and a Napanee man facing an attempted murder charge after a serious incident earlier this month.
High Winds Slam Quinte Region, Triggering Power Outages
Strong southwest winds continue across Belleville–Quinte West
Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for Belleville, Quinte West and Eastern Northumberland County, warning of strong southwest winds gusting between 70 and 80 km/h this morning. The agency notes that local utility outages are possible, high-sided vehicles may be pushed around on highways, and unsecured outdoor objects could be tossed by the wind.
At CFB Trenton, conditions early this morning included winds from the west-southwest around 35 km/h with gusts near 50 km/h, with temperatures just above freezing and a risk of flurries later in the day.
Where the lights are out – and where they’re still on
According to Quinte News, gusting winds are contributing to outages across much of Ontario, but the Quinte region itself has seen only scattered disruptions so far. As of around 6 a.m. this morning:
- Most homes and businesses in the Quinte area still had power.
- Smaller outages were reported near:
- Brighton
- Rednersville Road
- North Beach in Prince Edward County
- The village of Hastings in Trent Hills
- A larger outage stretched from Colborne up to Roseneath in Northumberland County, affecting roughly 3,700 customers.
- Province‑wide, Hydro One was dealing with 136 separate outages, impacting almost 11,000 customers in the early-morning hours.
While those numbers will change throughout the day as crews restore service and new outages occur, they give a snapshot of how Thursday’s winds are affecting eastern Ontario.
Province-wide warning: possible extended outages
The local situation is part of a larger storm system sliding across Ontario. In a province‑wide update, Hydro One warned that winter storms bringing high winds and significant snow over the next few days could cause extended power outages for some communities.
In coverage of the utility’s warning, CHCH News reports that:
- Environment Canada expects winds of 70–80 km/h across much of the province, with some areas potentially seeing gusts up to 90 km/h.
- Hydro One is closely monitoring conditions and says crews are ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible when outages occur.
- Residents are being urged to:
- Restock emergency kits with water, non‑perishable food and some cash
- Have a flashlight with fresh batteries readily available
- Keep a charged portable phone charger on hand in case the power goes out
Napanee and Loyalist Township also bracing for wind
Neighbouring communities are seeing similar conditions. Local radio outlet Napanee Today and its affiliated regional network report that Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for southern Greater Napanee and Loyalist Township, warning of strong southwest winds with gusts that could reach 80–90 km/h from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday.
That means the same storm system rattling the Quinte shoreline is also sweeping inland, with both urban and rural areas being urged to secure outdoor items and prepare for possible service disruptions.
How residents can stay safe during the wind event
Authorities and utilities consistently recommend some basic precautions during high-wind events and potential power outages:
- Secure loose outdoor items such as garbage bins, patio furniture, decorations and lightweight equipment.
- Use four‑way flashers and reduce speed when driving in strong crosswinds, especially in high-sided vehicles.
- Treat intersections where traffic lights are out as four‑way stops.
- Keep devices charged and have a backup power bank ready in case of prolonged outages.
- Avoid approaching downed power lines – assume they are live and report them to your local utility or 911.
Hydro One also provides an online outage map and tools for reporting outages and checking restoration times.
Napanee Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Serious Disturbance
While the wind storm is the major weather story, criminal charges laid in Napanee are drawing intense attention across eastern Ontario media today.
What police say happened on November 8
Multiple local outlets – including Quinte News, InQuinte, Napanee Today and The Napanee Beaver – report that the charges stem from an incident on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
According to summaries of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) news release:
- Shortly before 6:00 p.m. on November 8, Lennox and Addington County OPP were notified by L&A County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) about an injured person inside a residence in Napanee.
- Officers responded to the home, where one victim was found with serious injuries.
- The victim was transported to a local trauma centre hospital for treatment.
A separate report by Kingston Daily notes that paramedics were already on scene when officers arrived and that the victim’s injuries were considered serious.
Police have not publicly released details about the nature of the injuries, the exact location of the home, or the relationship between the accused and the victim.
The charges: attempted murder and more
Following what OPP describe as an “extensive police investigation,” several news outlets report that 49‑year‑old Joshua Bulger of Napanee has been charged with multiple serious offences, including:InQuinte.ca+2Quinte News+2
- Attempt to commit murder
- Forcible confinement
- Aggravated assault
- Assault with a weapon
- Assault causing bodily harm involving choking, suffocation or strangling
- Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm
The alleged incident has been widely covered across the region:
- Quinte News lists the case among its top stories, highlighting the number and seriousness of the charges.
- InQuinte and The Napanee Beaver provide similar charge lists and timelines.
- Napanee Today reports that the initial disturbance sent one person to hospital earlier in the month and that the charges followed the police investigation.
Regional outlets such as Kingston Daily have also picked up the story, emphasising that the victim remains in a trauma centre with serious injuries and that a Napanee man is facing several charges including attempted murder.
Social posts from CTV Ottawa and the Kingston Whig‑Standard further signal how significant this case has become within eastern Ontario’s news cycle.
Custody status and court process
All of the outlets referencing the OPP release report that the accused is:
- Currently in custody, and
- Awaiting a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee at a date yet to be publicly announced.
At this stage, none of the allegations has been proven in court. The presumption of innocence applies unless and until there is a conviction.
Impact on the community
Napanee and the surrounding Lennox and Addington County area have seen several high-profile OPP investigations in recent years, and this latest case adds to concerns about serious violence in otherwise quiet residential neighbourhoods.
While police have not indicated that there is any ongoing threat to public safety arising from this specific incident, stories like this often prompt wider community discussions about:
- Support for victims of violence
- Awareness of warning signs in households or relationships
- Access to mental health and social services
Anyone who feels they or someone they know may be in immediate danger is encouraged to contact 911. For non-emergency situations or information about this case, local residents can contact the Lennox and Addington County OPP detachment or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Key Facts at a Glance – November 27, 2025
Weather and power:
- Environment Canada has a Special Weather Statement in effect for Belleville–Quinte West–Eastern Northumberland County for strong southwest winds (70–80 km/h), with a risk of local power outages.
- Early this morning, Quinte News reported small outages near Brighton, Rednersville Road, North Beach and Hastings, plus a larger outage from Colborne to Roseneath affecting about 3,700 customers. Province‑wide, Hydro One was handling 136 outages impacting nearly 11,000 customers.
- Hydro One warns that extended outages are possible across parts of Ontario as winter storms bring strong winds and snow over the coming days, and urges residents to be prepared with emergency supplies and charged devices.
Crime and courts:
- On November 8, 2025, shortly before 6 p.m., OPP were alerted by EMS to an injured person inside a Napanee home. The victim was transported to a trauma centre with serious injuries.
- Following an investigation, 49‑year‑old Joshua Bulger of Napanee has been charged with attempted murder and several related offences including forcible confinement, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm involving choking, and uttering threats.
- The accused remains in custody, awaiting a bail hearing in Greater Napanee. None of the allegations has been proven in court.
For readers following developments in eastern Ontario, today’s news paints a picture of a region dealing simultaneously with severe weather risks and a serious criminal case making its way into the justice system. As winds gradually ease later today, attention will likely shift more heavily to the courtroom, where the details of the Napanee case will be tested in front of a judge.
