Skip to content
Join our Newsletter
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Friday’s high winds forced cancellation of ferry sailings, cut power

Update: A wind warning is in effect for Greater Victoria for Saturday morning. Winds could reach 70 km/h in areas near Juan de Fuca Strait, Environment Canada said. The winds are expected to ease later Saturday.
Victoria Times-Colonist Staff

Update: A wind warning is in effect for Greater Victoria for Saturday morning. Winds could reach 70 km/h in areas near Juan de Fuca Strait, Environment Canada said. The winds are expected to ease later Saturday. 

- - -

Strong winds led to a major round of ferry cancellations Friday afternoon and evening between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen.

B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Tessa Humphries said the decision was made in the mid-afternoon after discussions with Environment Canada weather experts.

She said Friday's 4, 5 and 7 p.m. sailings from Swartz Bay were cancelled, along with the 5, 6 and 7 p.m. departures from Tsawwassen.

“The storm, as per Environment Canada, is expected to shift to down here and the wind speeds will be too high,” Humphries said. “We anticipate the 9 p.m. in both directions resuming.” [Update: Spirit of British Columbia left at 9:01 p.m. Friday night from Swartz Bay for Tsawwassen, and Spirit of Vancouver Island left at 9:02 p.m. from Tsawwassen for Swartz Bay. Both sailings were full, and were the last ones scheduled for the day.]

Service resumed on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay run after a number of cancellations earlier in the day.

“The weather conditions have improved up there,” Humphries said.

Here's a roundup of other storm information:

Weather 

Winter storm, snowfall, wind and rain warnings remain in effect for northeastern and north-central B.C., most coastal areas, much of Vancouver Island and a section of eastern B.C.

Rainfall warnings are in place for parts of the Island. Between 100 and 150 millimetres of rain was expected on west Vancouver Island and near Port Alice on the north Island. Up to 50 mm could fall on the Island’s east coast.

Environment Canada warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas and washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

Wind warnings were issued for Greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands, and the east, west and north Island, with gusts of 70 km/h expected.

The storm is expected to bring up to 150 millimetres of rain to parts of Vancouver Island.

Heavy rain hit Vancouver Island late Thursday morning, with strong southeasterly winds developing in the afternoon.

Higher elevations received some snow, but evening warm air was expected to change all precipitation to rain.

B.C. Ferries

B.C. Ferries cancelled several sailings Friday due to heavy rain and high winds. You can see the full list here.

There sailing cancellations Friday between Tsawwassen and Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay, Comox and Powell River, Cortes Island and Quadra Island, and Campbell River and Quadra Island.

The Tsawwassen-Duke Point cancellations included the 10:15 a.m. sailings from both Tsawwassen and Duke Point, and will also include the 12:45 p.m. sailings from both terminals.

On the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route, six morning cancellations are being followed by 1 p.m. cancellations from both terminals.

B.C. Hydro

B.C. Hydro was bracing for outages across the south coast while crews continue to restore power to several thousand southern Interior customers left in the dark after a New Year's Eve snowstorm.Downed trees blocked roadways around Lake Cowichan.

As of 2:45 p.m. Friday, approximately 4,500 customers in the Ucluelet and Tofino areas were without power. B.C. Hydro said crews were patrolling the transmission line to find the outage cause. 

Other outages have been reported, as well: 

See B.C. Hydro's outage map here.

Roads

There were reports of trees across roads on Friday, along with pooling water on highways.

Parks

High winds also prompted Parks Canada to issue a wave hazard advisory for beaches, shorelines and coastal waters in and around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

It warned of wave surges, strong currents and shoreline flooding, and urged visitors to avoid activities in the water.

Homeless shelters

In Victoria, the Emergency Weather Protocol was activated for a second day, making extra beds available at local shelters on Friday night.

Elsewhere in B.C.

The storm was expected to intensify as it carries snow and rain across the province.

As much as 90 mm of rain was forecast over Howe Sound and Metro Vancouver, along with a chance of wet snow.

The central and southern Interior were expected to get snow Thursday evening, but freezing rain could hit the central Interior as the storm pushes northward.

The weather office said north central B.C., from Terrace and Kitimat east to the Alberta boundary, could see 20 to 30 centimetres of snow.

— With files from The Canadian Press