B.C. Hydro crews had a moment of respite Saturday before gearing up for overnight shifts to battle a fierce storm that was expected to knock out power across the south coast overnight.
Environment Canada released its latest rainfall and wind warnings on Saturday, forecasting the “third and most powerful of three storms” that have hit the coast in waves.
Heavy rains, resulting from the remnants of Typhoon Songda, were expected. As much as 50 millimetres was forecast for overnight in areas such as the Howe Sound, East Vancouver Island and the North Shore Mountains. Saturday evening’s storm was expected to bring winds up to 100 km/h, but was expected to ease by Sunday morning.
The second storm, which arrived Thursday night and intensified Friday afternoon, left 190,000 customers without power, B.C. Hydro spokeswoman Simi Heer said.
Crews worked overnight Friday to restore power and by Saturday evening, 15,000 customers remained without power, most of them on Vancouver Island and in North Vancouver.
B.C. Hydro’s meteorologists spent the week monitoring the storm system and anticipated the third storm’s strongest gusts would arrive between 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday evening.
Crews from the Interior were brought in to bolster the response on the south coast. Crews from Vancouver Island were repositioned in areas expected to be hit hardest, including the Gulf Islands.
After a busy Friday night, local crews were given “rest time” to ensure they were prepared for another overnight shift, Heer said Saturday.
Around noon, B.C. Ferries announced it had cancelled the remainder of the day’s major sailings in anticipation of the storm. Sailings from 3 p.m. through the evening between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay, Duke Point and Tsawwassen, and Southern Gulf Islands and Tsawwassen were all cancelled due to severe weather and rough waters.
“With this front coming in tonight, it’s just prudent to shut down,” B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said Saturday. “We fully expect to be back in operation (Sunday) morning.”
Marshall said crews were being told to prepare for an early morning start on Sunday, to help deal with any pent-up demand and travellers stranded overnight. Sunday morning service — which usually begins around 10 a.m. — could start as early as 5 a.m., with customers being advised to check the B.C. Ferries website for the latest information.
Traffic at Vancouver International Airport was expected to be business as usual, according to spokesman Terry Chou, who said there had also been no major delays during the previous two storms in the week.
“We want to advise our passengers to check with their airlines for updates,” he said. “But in terms of traffic impact, at 10 p.m. tonight, our traffic is low so we don’t expect any delays.”
Meanwhile, the Vancouver park board announced Stanley Park would close at 8 p.m. Saturday in anticipation of winds up to 90 km/h and gusts over 100 km/h.
Playland’s popular Halloween-themed Fright Nights was also closed Saturday over concern about public safety.
