AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 7, 2026
New Wind Warnings for B.C.'s South Coast
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued fresh wind warnings for large areas of British Columbia's South Coast, including Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, and the Fraser Canyon. This follows a spell of blustery fall weather on Friday that caused widespread disruption to power supply and ferry services across the region.
Strong Winds Forecast to Return
ECCC forecasts that another strong low-pressure system will bring powerful southeasterly winds reaching speeds of 70 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h, beginning Saturday afternoon. The winds are anticipated to ease toward midnight. The agency cautions that the conditions could result in additional power outages and potentially hazardous falling or flying debris. People are advised to stay alert and take appropriate precautions.
Interior Also Braces for Inclement Weather
The B.C. Interior, particularly the region stretching from Hope northward to Burns Lake, is under a special weather statement. Winds in these areas are expected to strengthen on Saturday afternoon, with gusts ranging between 60 and 80 km/h, peaking Sunday morning. An additional cold front is predicted to bring yet stronger winds to the Interior later Sunday.
Power Outages Continue as Restoration Efforts Ongoing
B.C. Hydro reports that as of Saturday morning, approximately 40,000 customers across the province remain without power due to Friday's storm, down from a peak of about 80,000 outages. Over 22,000 of these were in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast, more than 9,500 on Vancouver Island, and over 4,400 in the central Interior and North. On Vancouver Island alone, there were more than 30,000 affected customers at the storm's peak.
The storm also caused significant issues in the central Interior and North, where downed trees resulted in outages for about 23,000 customers in areas such as 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel, and Vanderhoof. At one stage, nearly a third of Prince George was without electricity.
B.C. Hydro spokesperson Whitney Dean described Friday's event as "the storm coming in waves," which led to new outages arising even as crews worked to restore service elsewhere. Crews continue efforts to bring customers back online and are preparing for potentially stronger winds. Dean advised residents to have a 72-hour emergency kit ready, including essential supplies such as batteries and flashlights.
Ferry Services Resume but Remain at Risk
Major disruptions were also experienced on B.C. Ferries routes on Friday, where strong winds forced dozens of sailings to be cancelled. By Saturday, spokesperson Lilian Kim reported that services had resumed as scheduled. However, with further wind expected, travellers are urged to check for service updates before heading to terminals. Kim emphasized that safety remains the top priority, stating that affected passengers will be booked on replacement sailings or offered refunds should services be further disrupted.
Public Urged to Prepare for Ongoing Weather Impacts
With more strong winds in the forecast for both the Coast and Interior, residents are being reminded to monitor weather advisories and prepare for possible disruptions to power and transportation. Emergency preparedness, such as maintaining a supply kit, is recommended as the fall weather system continues to affect the region.
Source: cbc.ca.
