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Storm knocks out power to 50,000 on B.C.'s South Coast

The first big fall storm hit B.C.'s South Coast last night, knocking out power to up to 50,000 customers across the Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and Metro Vancouver areas at the peak of the storm.

Some of strongest winds were recorded on Saturna Island, where midnight gusts hit 99 km/h

Justin McElroy · CBC News ·
A firefighter sets up a roadblock on Thursday night in West Vancouver as the first storm of the fall hits the South Coast of B.C., knocking down trees and power lines. (GP Mendoza/CBC)

The first big fall storm hit B.C.'s South Coast last night, knocking out power to up to 50,000 customers across the Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and Metro Vancouver areas at the peak of the storm.

By 7 a.m. PT, power had been restored to most customers, leaving about 5,000 in the Lower Mainland and 10,000 on Vancouver Island still in the dark.

Winds knocked down trees across Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island on Thursday night. (GP Mendoza/CBC)

West Vancouver fire Chief Jay Brownlee said his firefighters were kept busy overnight and into the morning attending to back-to-back calls for damage caused by the storm.

"We've seen a spike in emergency calls related to the severe rain and wind event," said Brownlee. "We've seen downed power lines, trees across the road, power poles snapped."

Brownlee said he wasn't aware of any damaged buildings injured people, as of 1:45 a.m.

Two taxis fight opposing vehicles on the Sea to Sky Highway to escape traffic caused by a downed tree. (Gian-Paolo Mendoza/CBC)

Some of the strongest winds were recorded on Trail Island and Sisters Island, where gusts hit 117 km/h at the height of the storm.

At one point, the Sea to Sky Highway was shut down in both directions after a large tree fell onto the highway. It brought down some power lines as well, but hydro crews were able to clear it and get traffic moving again around 3:20 a.m.

By Friday morning, most routes were clear, and wind and rainfall warnings had been lifted by Environment Canada.

Some BC Ferries sailings were also cancelled on Thursday evening, but all routes were running normally on Friday morning.

With files from Gian-Paolo Mendoza

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