Thousands without power as windstorm batters B.C.
CBC News | Posted: October 18, 2017 2:50 AM | Last Updated: October 18, 2017
BC Hydro says as many as 120,000 people experienced outages across the province
Tens of thousands of British Columbians were without power Tuesday after a windstorm swept across the province Tuesday, felling trees and damaging electrical infrastructure.
BC Hydro says as many as 120,000 people across the province experienced outages as a result of the storm.
Wind warnings from Environment Canada were in effect throughout the day for much of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the southern Interior.
As much as 120 millimetres of rain fell in the Tofino area and upwards of 50 millimetres fell in some parts of the Lower Mainland, according to Environment Canada.
Wind speeds were clocked at more than 100 km/h at the Kamloops airport and as high as 75 km/h in the Kootenays.
Multiple trees were uprooted by the wind in Kamloops's McArther Island Park, leading to the closure of the west section of the park.
Power outages confounded an already chaotic situation in Fernie, where a large swath of town was evacuated following an ammonia leak in the local arena that killed three people.
"We have winds that are unbelievable. I've never seen winds like this in Fernie before," said Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano, "It's been quite a day."
Meanwhile, the coastal community of Kingcome was inundated with floodwaters after heavy rainfall caused the Kingcome River to spill its banks.
Though Environment Canada has rescinded its wind warnings for the Interior, wind and rainfall warnings are in effect up and down the coast, including Vancouver Island.
As much as 50 millimetres of rain is expected in the Lower Mainland through Wednesday evening, while the island and North Coast are bracing for winds gusting up to 110 km/h.