UPDATE: Thousands of BC Hydro customers lost power as of 11 a.m. because of a wind storm.
UPDATE: More Hydro customers are without power as of 1:30 p.m., according to BC Hydro.
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Today’s stormy weather has caused multiple power outages and ferry cancellations along the Island and Coast.
According to BC Hydro, a total of 19,552 BC Hydro customers lost power between the early morning and afternoon on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, with most of the outages coming from the Sunshine Coast.
They say 7,731 customers lost power in places like Courtenay, Campbell River, Duncan, Port Hardy, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Zeballos and Alert Bay, while 11,821 people lost power in Powell River and Sechelt.
These outages come as Vancouver Island saw heavy rain and strong winds earlier today, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
While some of the outages were caused by trees that fell down on wires, a wind storm or planned work done on equipment, BC Hydro adds the cause for most of the outages is under investigation. Some crews are on-site, with others to be on their way later in the day.
For BC Ferries customers, sailings have been affected by the weather.
In a travel advisory issued today, BC Ferries says because of the forecasted high winds for the North Strait of Georgia and North Vancouver Island, multiple sailings in those regions have been cancelled or are at risk of cancellation in several routes.
These included Westview and Little River, Campbell River and Quathiaski Cove, Westview and Blubber Bay, Gravelly Bay and Shingle Split, and Whaletown and Heriot Bay.
They add some of these routes will return to schedule as weather conditions have calmed down today, with Westview to Blubber Bay having returned at 9:20 a.m.
Westview and Little River returns at 9:55 a.m., Campbell River and Quathiaski at 10 a.m., and Gravelly Bay to Shingle Split also at 10 a.m.
For the Whaletown – Heriot Bay route, they will provide an update on the schedule once more information is available.
More updates to come as soon as they become available.
