High winds sweep across British Columbia, leaving thousands of residents without power and prompting widespread warnings from forecasters.
Vancouver Island Hit Hardest
As of 4 p.m. PT, approximately 26,000 customers of B.C. Hydro remain without electricity on Vancouver Island. Forecasters predict wind gusts reaching up to 100 km/h in some spots, fueling outages and potential hazards.
Interior and Highway Alerts
Wind warnings extend to much of the southern and central Interior, covering areas like South Thompson, Nicola, 100 Mile House, Chilcotin, and the Coquihalla Highway. Strong gusts threaten disruptions there as well.
Winter Storms in the North
Yellow warnings for winter storms blanket north-central regions, including Prince George and the Peace area. Up to 25 centimetres of snow could accumulate by Wednesday morning, accompanied by 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,” forecasters advise.
Fraser Valley and Mountain Passes
Special weather statements target the eastern Fraser Valley and mountain passes such as Highway 3 and the Okanagan Connector. Southwesterly winds may gust up to 80 km/h but are set to ease by midnight Wednesday.
Coastal wind warnings should lift late Tuesday afternoon, yet residents must stay vigilant. Forecasters caution that local utility outages remain possible, along with service and travel disruptions.
“Stay away from fallen power lines,” warnings emphasize.
