Bomb cyclone slams B.C.: Highways closed, thousands without power, trees down

Tens of thousands of British Columbians were without powerfulness connected Wednesday aft a bomb cyclone brought beardown winds overnight.

However, much than 175,000 customers person had their powerfulness restored – oregon astir two-thirds of the much than 272,000 impacted, BC Hydro said successful an update.

As of 6:30 a.m., astir 95,000 customers were without power. The majority, astir 90,000, were connected Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and astir 5,000 were connected the Lower Mainland and connected the Sunshine Coast.

Langara College’s main field connected West 49th Avenue is closed until 12 p.m. owed to the powerfulness outage.

On Tuesday evening successful North Vancouver, a histrion fell connected powerfulness lines causing an explosion.

Trees were brought down successful areas including Vancouver, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam. Some fell connected cars and blocked roads, however, determination person been nary reports of immoderate injuries.

Several highways connected Vancouver Island stay closed, including Highway 4 eastbound of Port Alberni wherever trees and branches littered the road.

Crews utilized instrumentality to region larger pieces but the closures did origin immoderate collisions.

Highways closed include:

• Highway 4 from Highway 4A (Errington) to Port Alberni, and from Port Alberni to Tofino/Ucluelet junction
• Highway 14 westbound of Sooke
• Highway 18 astatine Hillcrest
• Highway 28 from Gold River to Campbell River
• Pacific Marine Circle Route

The tempest besides affected BC Ferries.

Most sailings connected Tuesday evening were cancelled owed to the incoming storm.

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The institution has said trips connected Wednesday greeting are besides scrapped owed to the sustained winds.

A upwind informing is inactive successful spot for Howe Sound, eastbound Vancouver Island and Southern Gulf Islands.

Environment Canada said highest upwind gusts successful Metro Vancouver reached 78 km/h astatine Vancouver’s airport, and 87 km/h astatine the Delta Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

In the Greater Victoria area, upwind gusts reached 96 km/h astatine Discovery Island, 113 km/h astatine Race Rocks, 74 km/h successful Victoria’s harbour and 69 km/h astatine Victoria’s International Airport.

On bluish Vancouver Island, upwind gusts reached 170 km/h astatine Sartine Island, 137 km/h astatine Solander Island, 102 km/h astatine Herbert Island and 102 km/h astatine Port Hardy’s airport.