A significant fall storm battered Vancouver Island with easterly winds gusting to 170 km/h off the northern tip.
An intense low-pressure system brought very strong winds to the B.C. coast the night before leading to numerous downed trees, power outages and ferry cancellations.
As of 4 a.m. peak winds in Greater Victoria hit a high of 113 km/h at Race Rocks, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Discovery Island recorded gusts up to 96 km/h, 91 km/h at Trial Islands, 74 in Victoria Harbour and 69 at Victoria International Airport in North Saanich, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Things were even worse at the other tip of the Island, with winds hitting 170 km/h at Sartine Island, located northwest of Cape Scott. To the south, winds at Solander Island reached 137 km/h and Herbert Island recorded gusts up to 102 km/h as did Port Hardy airport.
Up the east coast Comox hit 72; Qualicum Beach Airport 74; Nanaimo Airport 69; Entrance Island 104; Chrome Island Lighthouse 83; Sisters Island 113 and 109 km/h at Ballenas Island.
Tens of thousands of Island residents remained without power, even as wind warnings for the region ended Nov. 20 around 9:30 a.m.
Things were a little more chill on the Lower Mainland, where roughly 5,000 residents were without power Wednesday morning. That was reflected in the peak wind gusts recorded: 78 km/h at Vancouver International Airport; 87 at Tsawwassen ferry terminal: 93 at Sand Heads and 85 at Point Atkinson: 85.
Did you get good photos or video of the storm? Share your images with our readers, email newsroom@vicnews.com.
Stormy seas at Island View Beach in Central Saanich, courtesy of Peninsula News Review reporter Harry Corro. Let's see your #BCStormWatch photos from around #yyj ! pic.twitter.com/biqNesYvvO
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) November 20, 2024
