A powerful windstorm swept across B.C.’s South Coast and Vancouver Island Monday night, leading to cancellations of BC Ferries, power outages and some closures.
In anticipation of choppy waters, BC Ferries cancelled two early morning sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay and more sailings were cancelled from Duke Point to Tsawwassen on Tuesday.
Crew shortages also halted several sailings between Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay.
“If the storm comes through as predicted, we do expect to resume our service,” Deb Marshall with BC Ferries said Tuesday.
The gusty winds also caused power outages for thousands of BC Hydro customers. At one point, almost 20,000 were without electricity on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland.
“We are seeing power outages in Sooke, Sidney and Victoria,” Kevin Aquino with BC Hydro said.
“Crews have been assigned and crews are already on site in certain regions. Our Crews are ready to restore power.”
In White Rock, high winds forced the pier to be closed down until further notice as a safety precaution.
The Fraser-Cascade School District closed Boston Bar Elementary School due to road conditions and a power outage.
Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga said the highest wind gusts were in the southern Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
That area, near Victoria, will remain very windy into the evening, he added.
Comments