With an approaching atmospheric river set to hit B.C.’s coast on Thursday, the provincial energy provider is warning there may be outages due to the incoming storm.
BC Hydro is warning customers to be prepared for weather-related power outages caused by weakened trees, especially on B.C.’s South Coast.
“Last year, we saw extremely dry conditions and in the summer this year, we saw the same thing,” said Susie Rieder, BC Hydro spokesperson.
“We were lucky last year because there weren’t that many extreme wind events.
“Now we have two years of dried-up soil and an unprecedented amount of dead and weakened trees that could pose a problem for our infrastructure.”
BC Hydro meteorologists say the incoming winds could impact services around the province.
“(A) BC Hydro meteorologist predicts a greater likelihood for substantial damage this storm season because there is a healthy stock of wind-vulnerable trees,” BC Hydro said in a release.
“Trees that have been impacted by the drought will not show immediate visible effects. However, drought conditions have impacted the small structural roots that provide trees with stability, making them more susceptible to wind of any speed.”
Preparations for storm season are made year-round and BC Hydro said it has increased its vegetation management program to mitigate drought conditions.
“(BC Hydro) goes around looking for problem trees, problem vegetation and removes it,” Rieder said. “But we are also urging our customers to prepare. Get an emergency kit with 72-hours’ worth of goods.”
According to BC Hydro, trees and adverse weather account for more than half of B.C.’s power outages.
Senior Global BC meteorologist Kristi Gordon said 40-60 mm rain is forecast for the South Coast, with 50-100 mm for Central and North Coast and winds gusting up to 100 km/h on Thursday.
She said that the South Coast should also expect strong winds and potentially heavier rainfall than it experienced on Tuesday.
While atmospheric rivers are a normal weather phenomenon, they have drawn increased scrutiny from B.C. emergency officials and meteorologists in the wake of the catastrophic floods and mudslides triggered by a series of such systems last November.
Gordon said this system is expected to move continuously down the coast, and not stall in place — reducing the amount of time any one region will be hit with heavy rain.
However, she added that minor flooding, pooling water and reduced visibility on the roads is possible.
— with files from Global BC’s Simon Little