Thousands without power, wind warnings remain on Vancouver Island
More than 6,000 BC Hydro customers were without power Monday morning as a fall storm brought heavy winds and rains to the region.
The largest outages were reported in Duncan, Victoria, Campbell River, Courtenay and Tofino.
There were 30 outages across Vancouver Island by 11 a.m., most due to downed power lines or trees downed on top of wires, according to BC Hydro.
Wind warnings will remain in effect for Greater Victoria and eastern Vancouver Island until the afternoon.
FERRIES CANCELLED
Environment Canada warned the overnight storm could cause property damage and power outages around the entire perimeter of Vancouver Island, as well as the southern Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast the central coast and Metro Vancouver.
BC Ferries cancelled four sailings between Greater Victoria and the B.C. Mainland Monday morning due to the weather.
The cancelled sailings included the 8 a.m. and noon sailings leaving Tsawwassen, and the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. vessels leaving Swartz Bay.
The strongest winds were expected on northern Vancouver Island and sections of the central coast near the Queen Charlotte Strait, where winds near 100 km/h gusting to 120 km/h were forecasted overnight.
ANOTHER STORM APPROACHES
The winds are expected to pick up again on the North Island on Monday night as another storm approaches.
"Another frontal system will arrive this evening with rain and wind speeds approaching 90 km/h for the exposed coastal sections of northern Vancouver Island and Central Coast," Environment Canada says. "Winds will ease to below warning criteria overnight."
The weather agency urges residents in areas covered by warnings to avoid wooded areas to prevent injury from falling trees or branches.
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is warning drivers along Highway 4 to use caution and be prepared for unplanned closures. Drivers are asked not to stop on the road in the Cameron Lake area, between Koen Road and Cathedral Grove, due to the risk of falling debris.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Life expectancy for Canadians fell in 2022 for third year in a row, says StatCan
Life expectancy for Canadians decreased for the third straight year in 2022, and more people died of COVID-19 than in any other year since the pandemic began, according to a report released Monday.
Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes
A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the militant group promising to release more civilian hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war and Israel under growing pressure to spare Palestinian civilians when the fighting resumes.
Mother of 2 and 4 exchange students identified as victims killed in crash in Huntsville, Ont.
The woman killed in a head-on collision in Huntsville over the weekend that also claimed the lives of four teenagers has been identified.
How Western Canada's sugar shortage is affecting bakeries, chocolatiers
Amid an ongoing strike at Western Canada's largest sugar refinery, bakery owners and chocolatiers are finding it hard to locate the amounts of sugar they need to keep their businesses going as we head into the holiday season.
Thick fog likely caused a roughly 30-vehicle collision on an Idaho interstate, police say
A thick layer of fog is believed to have caused a roughly 30-vehicle collision on an Idaho interstate, state police said. The collision occurred Monday morning on eastbound Interstate 86, near milepost 56, west of Pocatello, near the Pocatello Regional Airport.
Six teens in court in connection with beheading of French teacher
Six teenagers go on trial behind closed doors on Monday in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, a murder that shocked the country.
B.C. boy dies by suicide after online sextortion: RCMP
Mounties in northern British Columbia are investigating after a 12-year-old boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following an apparent case of online sextortion. Warning: This story is about a child who died by suicide and may be distrubing to readers.
Man who pleaded guilty in incel-inspired murder at Toronto spa to be sentenced today
A man who pleaded guilty to the incel-inspired murder of a Toronto massage parlour employee is expected to be sentenced today.
Elevator drops 200 metres at a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 workers and injuring 75
An elevator suddenly dropped around 200 metres (656 feet) while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 and injuring 75, the mine operator said Tuesday.