British Columbia is facing another round of powerful winds and heavy rain as a second major storm system moves across the province, creating fresh power outages, disrupting transportation and extending recovery efforts from the severe weather that struck earlier in the week.
The latest storm has placed communities across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley and parts of the Interior on alert. Utility crews are continuing to repair damage from the previous storm while responding to new outages caused by falling trees, branches and debris.
BC Hydro said its crews had restored electricity to more than 160,000 customers following Friday night's storm by Saturday afternoon. However, the utility reported that more than 190,000 customers had experienced power interruptions since the storm began, with approximately 30,000 still without electricity as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The company warned that some customers could remain without power overnight because of the extent of the damage and difficulties accessing affected equipment.
The situation has been particularly challenging in northern Vancouver Island and parts of the Interior, where fallen trees and debris have obstructed roads and prevented crews from reaching damaged infrastructure. In some locations, crews have had to conduct ground inspections to identify faults on transmission lines after weather conditions prevented helicopter assessments.
BC Hydro also warned that additional outages were possible as another round of strong winds moved across the province on Saturday and continued into Sunday.
More than 10,000 customers affected in Cowichan Valley
The latest round of severe weather brought further disruption to Vancouver Island, including the Cowichan Valley, where thousands of residents lost electricity on Saturday evening.
Reports from the region indicated that more than 10,000 customers were without power by approximately 9 p.m. Saturday. The affected communities included Duncan, Ladysmith, Mill Bay, Maple Bay, Westholme and Youbou.
Several major outages affected neighbourhoods across the valley, while additional interruptions were reported in Lake Cowichan, Mesachie Lake and surrounding communities.
The region was under a wind warning as strong southerly winds, with gusts reaching approximately 90 kilometres per hour, moved through the area.
The latest outages came as utility crews were already dealing with damage from the earlier storm, increasing pressure on restoration operations.
Environment Canada warns of damaging winds
Environment Canada continued issuing wind warnings across several parts of British Columbia on Sunday.
A warning issued early Sunday morning indicated that strong southwesterly winds could reach 90 kilometres per hour in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The affected areas included Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Delta, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, the North Shore, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope.
Strong winds were also forecast for parts of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and Greater Victoria. Some exposed coastal areas could experience gusts approaching 100 kilometres per hour.
Environment Canada warned that the conditions could cause local power outages, damage roofs and fences, bring down branches and create dangerous flying debris.
Residents were advised to secure loose outdoor objects and remain away from fallen or damaged power lines.
The weather agency also warned that strong winds could affect high-sided vehicles and create hazardous conditions for people travelling through exposed areas.
Ferry disruptions and transportation concerns
The succession of storms has also created challenges for transportation services, particularly along coastal routes.
BC Ferries warned that strong winds and rough conditions in the Strait of Georgia could result in cancelled or delayed sailings. Some services connecting Tsawwassen with the Southern Gulf Islands were already affected by weather-related cancellations on Saturday.
Travellers were encouraged to check sailing information before leaving for terminals because changing wind and wave conditions could affect scheduled services.
Road users were also advised to exercise caution, particularly on routes surrounded by trees and exposed to strong crosswinds. Fallen branches, debris and reduced visibility during heavy rainfall can create additional hazards.
BC Hydro prepares for an extended restoration operation
BC Hydro said its response to the storms would continue beyond the immediate weather event, with additional weather systems expected over the coming days.
The utility has deployed crews and contractors across several regions to restore electricity, assess damaged infrastructure and respond to new service interruptions.
The company explained that restoration work is being complicated by fallen trees, blocked access routes and continuing severe weather. Crews must sometimes remove debris before they can safely reach damaged equipment and begin repairs.
Customers were encouraged to prepare for further interruptions by keeping emergency supplies available.
BC Hydro recommended that households maintain a 72-hour emergency kit containing drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries and first-aid supplies.
The utility also advised residents to stay at least 10 metres away from fallen, damaged or low-hanging power lines. Anyone who encounters a dangerous power line should avoid approaching it and contact emergency services.
More unsettled weather expected in the coming days
Although some wind warnings were expected to ease later Sunday morning, forecasters continued monitoring additional weather systems approaching British Columbia.
Environment Canada's Sunday forecast included further periods of rain and windy conditions in the days ahead, with another unsettled period expected early in the following week.
BC Hydro said the possibility of further storms meant restoration work could continue alongside preparations for additional damage and power interruptions.
The repeated weather systems have highlighted the challenges facing coastal and inland communities when strong winds, heavy rainfall and falling trees affect infrastructure over several consecutive days.
Residents across British Columbia are being urged to follow official weather warnings, monitor power-outage updates and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather.
With crews working across multiple regions and more unsettled conditions expected, the province's storm response remains ongoing.
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