Thousands Without Power After Storm Hits British Columbia’s South Coast

  • A powerful storm knocked out power to 290,000 customers across British Columbia’s South Coast, with crews working to restore service.
  • Wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h caused significant damage, leaving 7,500 customers without power by Tuesday afternoon.

Thousands of British Columbians woke up on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, without power after a fierce storm knocked out electricity across much of the province’s South Coast the previous day.

BC Hydro reported that around 250 crews, including employees and contractors, have been working non-stop to restore service. By 3 p.m. Tuesday, approximately 7,500 customers remained without power, down from a peak of 290,000 at the height of the outage.

Mora Scott, a spokesperson for BC Hydro, explained that the remaining outages are in more difficult-to-reach areas. “What crews are dealing with now are the more challenging spots, which required the use of helicopters to access yesterday,” she told CTV News. “We hope to have most customers back online by the end of the day, but some may remain without power overnight.”

The storm caused significant damage, toppling trees, power lines, and utility poles. BC Hydro also noted that ongoing drought conditions have weakened trees, making them more susceptible to falling during windstorms.

Wind gusts in the region exceeded 100 km/h, with the highest recorded gust at 107 km/h at Gonzales Point in Victoria. Chilliwack saw 85 km/h gusts on the mainland, and Vancouver International Airport recorded 77 km/h winds.

Armel Castellan, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said the storm’s impacts were significant and required rapid adjustments to weather alerts. “It was a pretty substantial event that required real-time forecasting adjustments,” he said.

Castellan also warned that the region’s infrastructure and landscape remain vulnerable after enduring two major weather events in the past few weeks. “If we experience 36 to 48 hours of consistent rain in the coming weeks, we could see more serious impacts to safety and infrastructure,” he added.

BC Hydro crews continue to work to restore power to the remaining affected areas, but residents are advised to prepare for potential continued outages.

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