Thousands lose power as strong winds hit parts of B.C.

Thousands of residents across British Columbia were left without electricity as strong winds swept through the region, prompting widespread weather warnings and safety alerts. Authorities have urged people to remain cautious as conditions continue to affect both coastal and inland areas.

According to BC Hydro, more than 53,000 customers lost power on Vancouver Island by Tuesday evening. The number later dropped to around 40,000 as crews worked to restore electricity. The outages were mainly caused by powerful wind gusts that reached speeds of up to 100 km/h in some locations.

Weather officials from Environment Canada issued multiple wind warnings across the province. While some coastal warnings were lifted later in the day, alerts remained in place for large parts of the southern and central interior, including regions such as the South Thompson, Nicola, 100 Mile, and Chilcotin areas.

In addition to strong winds, winter storm warnings were also issued for north-central regions, including Prince George and nearby areas. Forecasters warned that these regions could receive up to 25 centimetres of snowfall, along with blowing snow and near-zero visibility, making travel extremely dangerous.

High winds were also expected to impact key transportation routes, including mountain passes and highways. Drivers were advised to avoid non-essential travel as sudden weather changes could create hazardous conditions on the roads.

Officials warned that the storm could continue to disrupt daily life, with possible impacts on transportation, services, and infrastructure. Residents were also advised to stay away from fallen power lines and report outages to local authorities.

Although some conditions began to improve later in the evening, weather agencies continue to monitor the situation closely. The storm serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of extreme weather and the importance of staying prepared and informed during such events.