Strong winds are battering British Columbia, leaving thousands of residents without power and prompting widespread wind warnings.
Vancouver Island Hit Hardest
As of 4 p.m. PT, around 26,000 B.C. Hydro customers on Vancouver Island face outages. Weather officials report wind gusts reaching up to 100 km/h in some spots, fueling the disruptions.
Interior and Highway Alerts
Wind warnings extend across much of the southern and central B.C. Interior, affecting areas like South Thompson, Nicola, 100 Mile House, Chilcotin, and the Coquihalla Highway. Residents should brace for powerful gusts and potential service interruptions.
Winter Storms in the North
Yellow warnings for winter storms blanket north-central B.C., including Prince George and the Peace region. Forecasters predict up to 25 centimetres of snow by Wednesday morning, with near-zero visibility from blowing snow and high winds.
“Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Consider postponing non-essential travel and outdoor activities until conditions improve,” states Environment Canada.
Fraser Valley and Mountain Passes
Special weather statements cover the eastern Fraser Valley and mountain passes such as Highway 3 and the Okanagan Connector. Southwesterly winds may gust to 80 km/h but are set to ease by midnight Wednesday.
Coastal wind warnings could lift late Tuesday afternoon, yet officials urge caution. Local power outages remain possible, along with travel disruptions. Authorities advise staying clear of downed power lines.
