A fast-moving windstorm sweeping across Vancouver Island Tuesday afternoon continues to knock out power to tens of thousands, with outages still climbing in both southern and northern regions.
According to BC Hydro data, more than 25,000 customers in northern Vancouver Island are now without power as of late afternoon, with widespread outages reported from Campbell River, through the Comox Valley, Parksville, Nanaimo and Port Alberni.
In Parksville alone, multiple outages have left thousands in the dark, including one affecting over 3,000 customers, while another has impacted nearly 1,900.
Large outages have also been reported in the Comox Valley, including more than 2,400 customers near the Island Highway.
Across many northern regions, causes range from tree down across wires to wind-related damage, with several outages still under investigation.
Meanwhile on southern Vancouver Island, outages began shortly after 3 p.m., with Duncan among the hardest hit.
More than 2,100 customers lost power east of Lovers Lane, while another 2,000 were impacted west of Telegraph Road.
Additional outages in the area include nearly 900 customers south of Sparewood Road, where BC Hydro has confirmed a tree down across power lines.
On the Gulf Islands, outages continue to expand, with hundreds affected on Galiano Island and more than 1,600 customers impacted in multiple outages around Ganges on Salt Spring Island.
Many outages across the region remain under investigation, though strong winds appear to be the primary cause in most cases.
BC Hydro crews have been dispatched to several locations, while others are still awaiting assessment as the situation continues to evolve.
Residents are being reminded to stay clear of downed power lines and report outages directly to BC Hydro.
There were no wind warnings issued for Vancouver Island today.
