Ferries cancelled, power restored to thousands on Vancouver Island following storm
More than 6,000 BC hydro customers were without power on Vancouver Island Thursday morning as the first of several storms swept along B.C.'s coast.
By 9 a.m., 6,329 customers had lost power on the island, mostly in the Mid and North Island, with the hardest hit communities including Nanaimo, Parksville and Courtenay.
Power was restored to most customers by Thursday afternoon, according to BC Hydro.
The energy provider says it's doing its best to prepare for stormy conditions which are expected to continue into Thursday in some parts of the island, and return this weekend and early next week.
WIND AND RAIN WARNINGS
Rainfall warnings are still in effect for West Vancouver Island and North Vancouver Island, while a wind warning is active for East Vancouver Island.
The stormy conditions began Wednesday evening and are expected to persist until the end of day Thursday.
In West Vancouver Island, 50 to 60 millimetres of rain is expected to fall Thursday. By the end of the day, Environment Canada predicts that this region will have seen about 100 to 150 millimetres of rainfall over a 48-hour period.
"The ground, already near saturation, has little ability to absorb further rainfall," said Environment Canada.
"Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Avoid driving through water on roads," said the weather agency.
Meanwhile, 50 to 100 millimetres of rainfall is expected in North Vancouver Island Thursday.
Environment Canada adds that snowmelt and runoff from mountains in the northern region may also contribute to flooding conditions.
In East Vancouver Island, strong wind gusts between 70 and 90 km/h are expected Thursday morning before easing in the afternoon.
BC FERRIES CANCELLATIONS
Strong winds across the coast cancelled some BC Ferries sailings Thursday. Several routes along Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Southern Gulf Islands were cancelled due to strong winds.
The full list of cancelled sailings can be found here.
The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us," said BC Ferries in a statement Thursday.
"We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience experienced as a result of this cancellation."
Weather conditions are expected to improve Friday before storms return this weekend and early next week.
On Thursday afternoon, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said that everyone in the province should plan for the storms ahead.
"There are three big pulses of storm coming, each with increasing intensity," he said.
"The time to prepare is now."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.