A second powerful windstorm swept across British Columbia overnight Saturday, knocking out electricity for tens of thousands of residents and killing one person in Surrey when a tree came down onto a highway. According to CBC, more than 63,000 B.C. Hydro customers were still without power on Sunday morning, with the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast accounting for more than half of those outages. The total was down sharply from roughly 135,000 customers at the height of the storm.
Why it matters
The storm is the second to hit the province in quick succession, and its effects are still being felt across a wide stretch of British Columbia. The outages affect households and businesses from Vancouver Island to the Central Interior, while the death in Surrey marks the most serious human cost of the weather. With wind warnings still posted for several regions on Sunday, crews and emergency services remain in a response phase rather than a recovery one.
Fatal collision on Highway 10
Surrey Police Service said a tree fell across Highway 10 between 182 and 184 Streets at about 8 p.m. PT on Saturday, trapping two vehicles. One driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to CBC. The driver of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries.
The road was shut overnight and has since reopened to one lane in each direction. CTV News separately reported the fatality. Fraser Valley Today reported the closure of the Highway 10 section because of fallen trees and hydro lines.
Where the wind hit hardest
Environment Canada recorded peak gusts of up to 90 km/h over Vancouver Island, up to 80 km/h at Prince George and up to 70 km/h in the Lower Mainland, CBC reports. B.C. Hydro identified Surrey, Duncan, Port Hardy and Prince George among the communities most affected.
Wind warnings remained in place Sunday for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast and all of Vancouver Island south of Sayward. Environment and Climate Change Canada also issued wind warnings for the Central Interior, covering Prince George, Stuart-Nechako and the Lakes district. The agency said gusts could reach 90 km/h in those areas but expected the wind to ease by midday.
Ferries resume after cancellations
B.C. Ferries cancelled sailings on several routes on Saturday. On Sunday the operator said conditions had improved and that it was going back to its regular schedule, according to CBC.
What to watch
The focus now turns to restoration work, with B.C. Hydro crews facing the heaviest damage in Surrey, Duncan, Port Hardy and Prince George, and forecasters watching for the wind to drop off by midday Sunday.
