The eastbound side of the Trans-Canada Highway is closed near Hope because of a rock slide, but is expected to be fully open later this morning.
Meanwhile, Highway 3 near Keremeos remains closed in both directions due to another rock slide and no time for reopening has been issued.
The state of emergency in Delta continues as officials brace for a confluence of high winds and a king tide — a popular term for an especially high tide — this morning.
Winds gusting up to 80 kilometres per hour are expected to begin about 9 a.m., just as a king tide of over 15 feet peaks.
B.C. Ferries is also reporting that the Queen of Burnaby has cancelled the first round trip between Comox and Powell River and the ferry is holding in dock at Little River, Comox due to severe weather.
High winds and surging waters caused a seawall to collapse Tuesday at a residence on the south side of Seaview Road in Tsawwassen's Boundary Bay neighbourhood. The collapse, which occurred on private property, was isolated to one residence.
Corporation of Delta crews were on scene to stabilize the area before the next high tide.
Crews were in Boundary Bay and Beach Grove all morning monitoring the storm and dealing with a few areas of spot flooding.
Meanwhile, Flooding in Courtenay led Mayor Larry Jangula to declare a state of emergency on Tuesday. The city closed streets and trails in low-lying areas as well as the Lewis Park recreational facility. On Monday, 100 millimetres of rain fell above the Comox Valley reservoir and between midnight to 7:30 a.m. Tuesday another 82 mm fell. With up to 70 mm more forecast for today, Courtenay is bracing for the flooding to worsen.
Emergency Management B.C. and B.C. Hydro said the risk of flooding will continue through Thursday. The flooding could eclipse devastating floods that occurred there in 2009 and 2010, a city of Courtenay spokesman said.
Jangula said the state of emergency was a necessary precaution that will allow authorities to order travel bans or evacuations.
From Fanny Bay to Courtenay, parts of the Inland Highway became hazardous because of water pooling. Flooding forced the closure of Courtenay’s Fifth Street bridge, with traffic stretching two kilometres.
In Port Alberni, residents reported flooding in basements and thousands lost power. Municipal crews blocked off lower Third and Fourth Avenue, where flooded business owners scurried to deal with surging rainwater as storm drains overflowed. Wind tore the roof off Tar’s Auto Sales on Third Avenue and floodwater forced staff to evacuate.
Port Alberni Fire Department Capt. Herb Nadig said: “Lots of trees down, trees on the power lines.” Firefighters cordoned off areas where power lines were down and told residents to stay inside.
B.C. Hydro said wind knocked out power to about 11,000 customers in the north Island and nearly 4,000 in the south Island. By Tuesday night, power was back for most south Island customers, but hundreds were still without power further north.
It was expected to take until 4 a.m. today to restore power in Port Alberni, said Karla Louwers, spokeswoman for B.C. Hydro. Wind knocked trees onto power lines and caused many to fall, she said. “There’s multiple sources of damage.”
Flooding delayed B.C. Hydro crews by forcing them to take detours to get to trouble spots, Louwers said.
Rain will continue today in Greater Victoria with 25 to 35 mm expected, mostly between midnight and noon, said Doug Lundquist, an Environment Canada meteorologist. “A third storm may roll in Thursday. But by Friday, the whole system kind of passes.”
