Environment Canada has issued wind warnings across Vancouver Island and B.C.’s south and central coasts, with gusts expected to reach up to 110 kilometres per hour in some regions Tuesday as a powerful fall storm sweeps across the province.
The weather agency says a “vigorous frontal system” will bring damaging southeast winds through the day, with conditions expected to peak this afternoon and evening before easing overnight.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, wind warnings were in effect for:
- Central Coast – coastal sections
- East Vancouver Island – Courtenay to Campbell River
- East Vancouver Island – Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay
- Greater Victoria
- Haida Gwaii
- North Vancouver Island
- Sunshine Coast
- West Vancouver Island
The strongest winds are forecast for northern and western Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and B.C.’s Central Coast, where gusts could reach 110 km/h along exposed coastal sections.
Further south, East Vancouver Island and Greater Victoria are expected receive southeast winds of 70 km/h gusting to 90 km/h starting late Tuesday morning and lasting into the evening. Winds are expected to shift southwest and begin to ease later Tuesday evening.
“Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. High winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada,” the weather agency said.
The strong winds are already affecting travel, with BC Ferries cancelling multiple sailings on the Alert Bay-Port McNeill-Sointula route due to incoming “severe conditions.”
The cancelled sailings include:
- Alert Bay: 6:20 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.
- Port McNeill: 7:10 a.m., 8:25 a.m., and 11:20 a.m.
- Sointula: 7:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 10:45 a.m.
Travellers are advised to check BC Ferries’ service notices for updates as the weather system continues to move down the coast.
The latest storm comes after a weekend storm knocked out power to hundreds of BC Hydro customers, with crews working days to restore electricity in places like Port Hardy.
Jeff Lawrence is a Digital News Editor for CHEKNews.ca.
After graduating from Langara College’s journalism program in 2009, Jeff worked as a digital producer at CTV Vancouver and CTV Vancouver Island…
More by Jeff Lawrence
