More than 3,000 BC Hydro customers in Tofino and Ucluelet are awakening to no power this morning.
They join another 1,800 or so in Central Saanich as the hardest hit as the second in an expected trifecta of wind and rain storms arrived on Vancouver Island overnight.
All told, Hydro crews are attempting to restore electricity for about 7,000 customers, including pockets of homes in Duncan, Lake Cowichan Victoria, Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Campbell River and the Comox Valley.
Power also winked out but was restored to thousands more, including 1,900 in Cumberland and more than 2,000 in each of the Parksville and Lake Cowichan areas.
The west coast and central inland areas appear to have been hit harder than the northern an southern tips. A wind warning remains in effect for all Island regions except the north. Environment Canada posted the following statement at 4:45 a.m. this morning.
"The second in a series of powerful October storms has arrived bringing heavy showers and very strong winds."As the low approaches, the wind will increase from the southeast along the west coast of Vancouver Island peaking at 100 km/h early this morning. East Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound near Bowen Island, Southern Gulf Islands and Metro Vancouver regions will see their winds from the southeast increase up to 80 km/h this morning."As the low moves across the South Coast, the winds will veer to southwest 40 gusting to 80 km/h beginning Friday morning over West Vancouver Island region, midday through Inland Vancouver Island region and progressing eastward reaching Metro Vancouver by Friday afternoon. Port Alberni will see their strongest winds from the southwest gusting to 90 km/h with the passage of the low."The strong winds will ease this afternoon before the next powerful storm arrives late Saturday."
Check for updates as they become available.
