Cyclone Winds Leave Over 200,000 BC Hydro Customers Without Power

Over 200,000 Lose Power as Bomb Cyclone Hits B.C. and U.S. Pacific Coast

More than 200,000 BC Hydro customers were without power Tuesday night as fierce winds from a “bomb cyclone” swept across Vancouver Island and the B.C. coast.

The storm, caused by a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system, struck about 400 kilometers off the west coast of Vancouver Island by late afternoon. Environment and Climate Change Canada warned winds would peak late Tuesday night.

Areas like Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island were hardest hit, while tens of thousands in the Lower Mainland, including Richmond, experienced outages.

South of the border, strong winds and snow left 94,000 without power in western Washington, while Oregon saw over 12,000 outages, according to poweroutage.us.

BC Hydro spokesperson Kevin Aquino said the utility was well-prepared for the storm, with crews and equipment strategically deployed. However, the historic drought in B.C. has weakened trees, making them more likely to fall and damage power lines.

Aquino advised residents to have emergency kits ready for at least 72 hours and emphasized safety around downed power lines. “Always assume they’re live, stay at least 10 meters away, and call 911 immediately,” he said.

The storm serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by extreme weather as winter approaches.