Highways, parks closed, thousands without power as winds batter B.C.’s South Coast

Environment Canada has issued a series of weather warnings across British Columbia for the upcoming weekend, with multiple closures and disruptions reported along the South Coast due to high winds and fallen trees. The province’s driver information service, DriveBC, announced the closure of the Sea to Sky Highway, also known as Highway 99, in both directions following a landslide at Brunswick Beach just north of Lions Bay on Saturday morning.

Authorities from Squamish RCMP stated that the highway is expected to remain closed until midnight, with no detours available at the moment. Emergency crews are currently assessing the scene for property damage and potential injuries, but so far, no injuries have been reported. The Lions Bay search-and-rescue team has dispatched rescue teams and a helicopter to the area to assist in the operation.

Highway 3B near Rossland in the Southern Interior was also closed due to a fallen tree north of Highway 22, leading to further disruptions in the region. Stanley Park and Lynn Canyon Park were closed due to high winds, with the Vancouver Park Board citing a heightened risk of falling trees as the reason for the closure.

Additionally, the District of North Vancouver received reports of downed trees on both public and private property, prompting the closure of trails in Lynn Canyon Park. The City of North Vancouver also closed trails at several parks, including Heywood, Loutet, Mahon, Mosquito Creek, Moodyville, and Eastview parks.

B.C. Ferries preemptively canceled numerous Saturday sailings due to the severe weather conditions, including high winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding warnings. The cancellations affected routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland, with the potential for further cancellations throughout the day.

The strong winds also led to power outages throughout the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast, with over 240,000 B.C. Hydro customers experiencing power loss. As of the latest update, around 100,000 customers remained without power, primarily in Metro Vancouver suburbs like Surrey, Burnaby, Langley, and Port Coquitlam.

The weather warnings issued by Environment Canada also include a rainfall warning for East Vancouver Island, with heavy downpours and flash floods expected. Coastal areas around Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island’s west coast are at risk of flooding due to high ocean water levels, strong winds, and big waves.

Inland mountain highways in southern and northern B.C. are forecasted to receive significant snowfall, with up to 20 centimeters accumulating overnight on Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass. Additional snowfall is expected along Highway 97 between Williston and Pine Pass and the surrounding areas.

Overall, residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to exercise caution and stay updated on the latest weather alerts and road closures to ensure their safety during the weekend.