Powerful winds across the South Coast of B.C. Saturday prompted wind warnings, cancelled ferry sailings and caused damage across the region, including a landslide.
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Victoria, East and West Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.
Southeast winds of up to 70 km/h, gusting up to between 90 and 100 km/h, were expected through the morning as a low pressure system makes its way inland. Winds on Vancouver Island and across Metro Vancouver were expected to ease in the afternoon as the low moved inland.
Bowen Island, Lions Bay, Metro Vancouver West Vancouver to Boundary Bay and Saturna Island were expected to see wind until early in the evening.
The wind knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and caused several downed trees.
At its peak on Saturday afternoon, BC Hydro’s website indicated just under 200,000 customers were without power across the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver Island.
In Ucluelet and Tofino, about 4,800 customers were without power as of Saturday afternoon, the power provider says. Fallen trees damaged multiple structures and brought down at least seven spans of power lines. BC Hydro says due to the extensive damage and remote location, the power may not come back on until 4 p.m. Saturday for this area.
Ferry and water taxi service on Quadra Island, was suspended due to the weather and BC Hydro says crews were standing by to attend to outages in that area once sailings resumed.
A landslide closed a section of Highway 99 in Lions Bay between Metro Vancouver and Whistler in both directions after it came crashing down on a bridge.
The slide happened at Brunswick Beach around 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Pictures from the scene show a large amount fof fallen trees and debris that slide over the bridge.
Crews are on scene to assess the damage and remove the debris, however Squamish RCMP says the highway is not expected to reopen before midnight. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.
A tree across Highway 99 through Stanley Park blocked one northbound lane but has since been cleared. Another tree down on SW Marine Drive near Cambie Street had blocked the eastbound lanes.
Many Saturday morning BC Ferries sailings are cancelled due to the bad weather.
The following sailings have been cancelled between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay
7 a.m. departing Swartz Bay
7 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
9 a.m. departing Swartz Bay
9 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
9 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
12 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
11 a.m. departing Swartz Bay
11 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
1 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
1 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
The following sailings have been cancelled between Tsawwassen and Duke Point
5:15 a.m. departing Duke Point
5:15 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
7:45 a.m. departing Duke Point
7:45 a.m.departing Tsawwassen
10:15 a.m. departing Duke Point
10:15 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
12:45 p.m. departing Duke Point
12:45 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
The following sailings have been cancelled between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay
6:15 a.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
6:15 a.m. departing Departure Bay
8:25 a.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
8:25 a.m. departing Departure Bay
10:40 a.m. departing Departure Bay
10:40 a.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
1 p.m.. departing Departure Bay
1 p.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
Certain sailings on the following routes have also been canclled due to the weather:
Langdale, New Brighton and Keats Landing
Blubber Bay and Westview
Campbell River and Quathiaski Cove
Shingle Spit and Gravelly Bay
Crofton and Vesuvius Bay
Chemainus, Penelakut Island and Thetis Island
Whaletown and HeriotBay
Anyone with a scheduled sailing for Saturday is asked to check the BC Ferries website for cancellations.