Image: BC Hydro / Power outages abound on Vancouver Island Tuesday night as a powerful storm has arrived.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Power outages

Update 8:15 p.m.: Over 177,000 BC Hydro customers without power due to fierce windstorm

Nov 19, 2024 | 6:04 PM

UPDATE 8:15 P.M. TUESDAY: The winds have now impacted the Lower Mainland as of 8:08 p.m., as 2,355 customers in North Vancouver, 3,488 customers in Coquitlam, and 3,845 customers in Port Coquitlam are without power. BC Hydro reports on its website that over 143,000 customers have lost power on Vancouver Island, including over 9,000 customers in Parksville and 25,000-plus customers in Nanaimo. There are over 175 reported outages just on Vancouver Island alone. Altogether, as of 8:15 p.m., over 177,000 customers have lost power.

Original story below from 6:04 p.m. Tuesday night: 

VANCOUVER ISLAND — Right around suppertime Tuesday evening, BC Hydro is reporting that over 77,000 customers on Vancouver Island are without power as an intensifying storm has arrived in British Columbia.

Environment Canada had warned about a storm that would bring powerful winds to Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast this week.

Matt MacDonald, the lead forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service, said earlier this week that B.C. coastal inlets could see “hurricane force” winds of more than 118 km/h and create waves up to nine metres off Washington and Oregon.

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Power outages

Update 8:08 p.m.: Over 177,000 BC Hydro customers without power due to fierce windstorm

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As of 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, over 3,000 customers in Qualicum Beach just northwest of Parksville lost power; over 2,400 customers in Tofino were without power; over 3,000 customers in Port Alberni have no electricity; and several thousands in greater Victoria currently lack power. On Vancouver Island alone, as of 6 p.m., over 77,000 customers were without power.

Environment Canada posted a special weather statement saying the storm will develop off the coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, bringing high winds and heavy rain to some areas starting in the afternoon. It said the weather system may cause downed trees, travel delays and power outages, adding that peak winds are expected for most areas Tuesday night, though the severe weather is likely to continue into Wednesday.

B.C. has been hit by a series of powerful fall storms, including an atmospheric river that caused flash flooding in Metro Vancouver in mid-October.