Wicked windstorm knocks out power to 400,000 B.C. homes
Woman suffers life-threatening injuries after being hit by falling tree in Surrey
VANCOUVER — A powerful windstorm caused chaos in southwestern British Columbia on Saturday, knocking out power to 400,000 homes — including 19,000 on Vancouver Island — and felling trees that crushed cars and critically injured a woman.
Surrey RCMP Sgt. Bill Parmar said a woman was walking with her daughter when she saw trees falling.
She was trying to warn other pedestrians and drivers when a tree fell on her.
RCMP said her daughter jumped out of the way, but the woman in her 40s was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Mounties were trying to identify her and find next of kin.
On Vancouver Island, Highway 19A between Parksville and Campbell River was closed in both directions one kilometre north of Cook Creek Road because of downed lines.
Ferries running between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay were running about 45 minutes late due to weather, according to B.C. Ferries. Sailings between Crofton and Saltspring Island were also affected.
Winds gusting up to 90 kilometres an hour forced the closing of Vancouver’s jewel, Stanley Park, although the east side of the park reopened Saturday afternoon.
The annual Pacific National Exhibition initially said it would close, but later announced it would stay open after Environment Canada cancelled a wind warning.
Several agencies were urging people to stay home.
Surrey RCMP said multiple trees fell down, crashing into cars and striking a pedestrian.
“There have been several nearmisses between trees and members of the public,” Parmar said.
“The current storm is making it very dangerous for the public and the first responders.”
Abbotsford Police also urged residents to stay indoors. Metro Vancouver’s transit authority, TransLink, asked riders to avoid using the system, if possible.
Most of the homes affected by power outages were in the Lower Mainland, including in Surrey, Richmond, Abbotsford and the western Fraser Valley, according to B.C. Hydro.
More than 2,000 customers were without power in the Greater Victoria region.
Spokeswoman Simi Heer said the utility has launched its storm response plan, bringing together decision-makers into one room in Surrey to ensure efficient deployment of crews and resources.
Heer said the outages are due to trees and branches falling on power lines and crews are working hard to repair damage, but customers should be patient.
“Crews might simply have to remove a branch from a line, or they have to go in and repair the line or repair the pole,” she said. “Windstorms are challenging because the degree of damage is quite varied.”
Environment Canada issued wind warnings on Saturday for Greater Victoria, Metro Vancouver, the Southern Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast.
The agency said a significant storm would affect the south coast on Saturday, with 40 to 80 millimetres of rain forecast for Howe Sound, the North Shore and northwestern Fraser Valley.
Winds blowing up to 70 kilome- tres an hour were forecast for Rock Creek, where a 44-square-kilometre wildfire has been raging for weeks.
“As there has been no rain to dampen the old fire ash, residents are advised there may be flying ash, and weakened trees in the fire area may fall,” the B.C. Wildfire Service warned on its website.
“As well, debris from damaged or destroyed homes may become susceptible to the strong winds and move about.”
The wildfire, which has now been 75 per cent contained, destroyed 30 homes in B.C.’s Kootenay Boundary region this month.
The provincial government issued an 80 km/h speed limit from Westbridge to Rock Creek, warning drivers to watch for debris and dusts from gusting winds.
SkyTrain service in Metro Vancouver was limited, with trains running from Waterfront to Metrotown and New Westminster to King George. Buses were running between Metrotown and New Westminster stations.
Today’s Environment Canada forecast for Victoria calls for showers and wind, with between five and 10 mm of raining falling tonight.