BC Hydro warning of possible overnight power outages

Multiple weather-related power outages are being reported in B.C.’s Interior.

On its power outage map, BC Hydro was showing 39 outages as of 10 a.m., including five in Lumby and 13 between Chase and Anglemont.

By 3:30 p.m., there were 110 power outages between Clearwater and Kelowna. There were another 25 in the Cariboo, two in the Lower Mainland plus one near Victoria and one on Salt Spring Island.

The overnight snowstorm that blanketed B.C.’s Southern Interior is being cited as the main cause for the power outages, including the outages in Enderby and Spallumcheen.

BC Hydro said at the peak of the storm on Tuesday morning, around 30,000 of its customers throughout the province were without power. As of 1:30 p.m., power had been restored to approximately 10,000 customers.

It said the hardest-hit areas included Clearwater, Quesnel and rural areas just outside of Kamloops, Vernon and Salmon Arm.

“All BC Hydro crews and available contractor crews in the region have been called to work to repair damaged equipment, including power lines, power poles and transformers,” BC Hydro said in a press release. “However, poor road conditions in rural areas are causing some delays in response.”

It added that crews will continue to work throughout the day and night to safely restore power, but that due to the extent of damage in some areas, customers in the hardest hits areas should prepare to be without power overnight.

For more on BC Hydro’s power outages, click here.

For more on FortisBC’s power outages, click here.