Severe weather has left thousands of BC residents without power and disrupted ferry services with widespread cancellations.
According to BC Hydro, around 160,000 customers have been affected by power outages caused by an ongoing windstorm, and more outages are anticipated.
“Strong wind and heavy rain have left more than 160,000 BC Hydro customers in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands without power. As the windstorm continues, additional outages are expected in these regions,” reads a statement from BC Hydro.
As of 11:30 am, around 148,000 Lower Mainland customers and Sunshine Coast customers are without power. On Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, 12,000 customers are affected, while Surrey has been the hardest hit, with almost 75,000 customers currently without power.
According to BC Hydro, the high volume of outages is due to a “multi-year drought” that has weakened vegetation, making it susceptible to wind.
“As a result, many dead and damaged trees and branches have fallen and are making contact [with] BC Hydro’s electrical equipment,” they stated.
Crews are expected to work throughout the day and into the night to repair damaged power lines, power poles, and equipment.
Residents are urged to “stay at least 10 metres back” from downed power lines.
Ferries cancelled due to “adverse weather”
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The weather has also forced BC Ferries to cancel ferry services “to ensure the safety of our customers and crew.”
BC Ferries has been updating its website and X account with several cancellation announcements due to “Environment Canada’s severe weather forecast.”
However, due to improved weather conditions, service has resumed for several routes, such as the Crofton to Vesuvius Bay route and the Chemainus to Penelakut Island to Thetis route.
Customers trying to reach customer service can expect a long wait, as BC Ferries stated that it’s currently “experiencing a high volume of calls.”
Due to weather related service concerns, we are currently experiencing a high volume of calls. Heavy traffic to our Customer Service phone line may result in intermittent busy signals. We are actively working to assist callers as quickly as possible, please stay on the line. gk
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) December 14, 2024
Wind advisory for Metro Vancouver
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On December 14, Environment Canada issued a wind warning for Metro Vancouver as gusts are expected to reach 70 to 100km/h.
“Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur,” reads the advisory. “Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. High winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches. Motorists, especially in high-profile vehicles, may expect hazardous driving conditions on highways subject to strong crosswinds.”