Ferries rerouted, kindergarteners temporarily stranded as wind whips B.C.'s South Coast
Winds of 70 km/h gusting to 90 km/h and up to 50 mm rain in forecast warns Environment Canada
BC Ferries has rerouted a number of sailings between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island as a windstorm struck the South Coast late Tuesday.
The 8:15 p.m. sailing from Duke Point to Tsawwassen will now be landing in Horseshoe Bay, and the 10:45 p.m. return trip will also leave from Horseshoe Bay.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCFServiceNotices?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCFServiceNotices</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DukePoint?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DukePoint</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tsawwassen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tsawwassen</a> 8:15pm has be revised to leave from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DukePoint?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DukePoint</a> and arrival at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HorseshoeBay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HorseshoeBay</a> due to adverse weather conditions.^rl
—@BCFerries<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCFServiceNotices?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCFServiceNotices</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tsawwassen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tsawwassen</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DukePoint?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DukePoint</a> 10:45pm has be revised to leave from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HorseshoeBay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HorseshoeBay</a> and arrive at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DukePoint?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DukePoint</a> due to adverse weather conditions.^rl
—@BCFerriesEarlier in the day, a class of 70 kindergarteners was temporarily stuck on Grouse Mountain after high winds closed the tram.
Sveena Pagely, the vice principal of Surrey's Sikh Academy, said the students left in the morning for a field trip on the mountain, but were stranded when Grouse was forced to close its downhill area, Skyride and other facilities because of wild weather.
The Skyride has since reopened, and the students were on their way down as of 6:30 p.m.
Earlier in the evening, Pagely told CBC News that "The kids are all doing very well. They're fine.They're happy. They've gotten their dinner and they're colouring."
Gusts of up to 70 km/h were recorded on the North Shore late Tuesday afternoon.
Weather warning
Environment Canada is warning of southeasterly winds strong enough to cause damage hitting coastal sections and parts of Howe Sound on Tuesday evening, with gusts up to 90 km/h.
In the City of Vancouver, more than 80 extra shelter spaces are opening tonight as part of an extreme weather response.
The wind warning also includes Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Langley, Richmond, Delta, and the North Shore.
Hold onto those hats, folks - a wind warning is in effect. After you've secured loose items, storm watch from your couch with our pier cam: <a href="https://t.co/KGKTavnbch">https://t.co/KGKTavnbch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bcstorm</a>
—@whiterockcityThen comes a cold front, bringing an estimated 50 mm of rain before Wednesday morning — enough to cause localized flooding in low-lying areas.
The rain warning includes Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, and the North Shore, as well as eastern Vancouver Island with the heaviest rainfall expected between Qualicum Beach and Fanny Bay.
Yesterday, peak winds reached 80-90 km/h on parts of the South Coast, cancelling or delaying a number of ferry sailings on the holiday Monday.
ICYMI: A summary of peak winds from Monday's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCstorm</a>: <a href="https://t.co/0GJfEA3W17">https://t.co/0GJfEA3W17</a> <a href="https://t.co/WMvqB4krzH">pic.twitter.com/WMvqB4krzH</a>
—@ECCCWeatherBCWith files from Tanya Fletcher