A powerful fall storm, dubbed a “bomb cyclone,” has arrived on Vancouver Island, bringing severe weather that is causing significant disruptions across the region.
As of 8:25 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19th, nearly 150,000 BC Hydro customers on Vancouver Island are without power, and the number continues to climb.
”We have all available crews to ensure a strong response this evening, and crews will work throughout the night to restore as many customers as possible. Ongoing wind has made it difficult to begin restoration work in some areas safely,” BC Hydro said in a statement.
“Customers should prepare to be without power overnight and we’ll continue to provide updates on estimated restoration times as they’re available.”
Downed power lines, debris, and fallen trees have led to multiple highway closures, prompting warnings from provincial officials to avoid travel.
The BC government has issued an advisory recommending drivers stay off the roads for the rest of Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, November 20th.
The following highways are currently closed:
• Highway 4: From Highway 4A (Errington) to Port Alberni, and from Port Alberni to the Tofino/Ucluelet junction
• Highway 14: West of Sooke
• Highway 18: At Hillcrest
• Highway 28: From Gold River to Campbell River
• Pacific Marine Circle Route
Drivers are warned to expect additional closures as the storm intensifies. Maintenance crews will begin clearing debris and reopening roads as soon as it is safe.
Environment Canada has maintained a weather warning for much of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Greater Victoria, the Southern Gulf Islands, and inland areas.
Peak wind speeds are expected overnight and into Wednesday morning, with gusts reaching 90–100 km/h.
The storm is expected to remain active from Tuesday afternoon to late Wednesday, with the strongest winds occurring Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Easterly gusts up to 100 km/h, with strong southeasterly winds will persist into Wednesday morning before easing later in the day.
Heavy rainfall is expected in some areas, though winds are the primary concern.
The storm system, a rapidly deepening low-pressure centre, is currently located approximately 400 kilometres southwest of Vancouver Island. It is expected to track northward toward the Central Coast by Wednesday, remaining offshore.
BC Hydro crews are prioritizing power restoration efforts, while maintenance contractors are on standby to clear debris and reopen highways.
The provincial government is urging residents to stay indoors and avoid travel until conditions improve. Updates on highway conditions and power restoration will be provided as new information becomes available.
BC Ferries has cancelled all sailing this evening with Wednesday morning cancellations expected as well.
Stay tuned for further updates as this severe weather event unfolds.
