Thousands without power, ferries cancelled amid autumn storm in B.C.
Landslides and road washouts reported on northern Vancouver Island
Strong wind and torrential rain rocked parts of British Columbia on Thursday night, leaving thousands without power and hampering travel in several areas.
According to B.C. Hydro, thousands of people were without power on Vancouver Island, the central Interior and in northern B.C. as a frontal system moved south through the province overnight. As of Friday morning, more than 7,000 people primarily in Metro Vancouver, the central Interior and northern Vancouver Island remain without power.
DriveBC is also reporting landslides and road washouts on northern Vancouver Island, including on Head Bay Road, between Gold River Road and Tlupana Road, and on Holberg Road in Port Hardy.
B.C. Ferries has cancelled sailings between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland on Friday morning as high winds remain in the forecast for the Strait of Georgia.
The ferry service says anyone who has a reservation on one of the cancelled sailings will be contacted by its customer service centre to try to get them on alternate sailing later in the day or to cancel their booking.
Hullo Ferries does not appear to have cancellations Friday, but has posted a notice on its website stating that adverse weather may impact sailings.
Environment Canada data shows that 139 millimetres of rain fell on Sartine Island Thursday into Friday morning, while Tahsis on Vancouver Island's west coast was drenched by 134 millimetres.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued flood warnings for waterways in the Terrace and Kitimat areas, a flood watch for northern Vancouver Island and the north and central coast and a high streamflow advisory for the South Coast and southern Vancouver Island.
The storm system is expected to move out of the province on Friday, but rainfall warnings and special weather statements remain in effect for most of Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver with up to another 70 millimetres forecast.
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This article, written by Courtney Dickson, was originally published for CBC News.