By Global News

Wind storm wallops B.C.’s south coast, leading to power outages, ferry cancellations

Jan 21, 2018 | 10:08 AM

VANCOUVER — All hands are on deck Sunday as heavy winds knocked out power for tens of thousands of BC Hydro customers.

More than 69,000 customers are in the dark across the province as of Sunday morning. The Sunshine Coast, parts of Vancouver Island and areas south of the Fraser River — including Surrey, Langley and Delta — appear to have been hardest hit.

“The high winds did cause a number of trees to come down,” Tanya Fish of BC Hydro said. “Branches and trees fell onto our power lines, knocking power lines down as well as damage to our power poles.

“Crews do have a big job today.”

Wind warnings remain in effect for Metro Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast, Greater Victoria, eastern Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.

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Strong winds forced BC Ferries to cancel some early-morning sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The first two Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay sailings of the day were also cancelled.

Winds topped 100 kilometres per hour in some parts, and clocked in at a whopping 120 kilometres per hour on Saturna Island.

Other parts of the province have been hit by heavy snowfall. A snowfall warning remains in place for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, which could see up to 30 centimetres of snow by Sunday night.

The Mount Washington ski resort is closed due to heavy snowfall and the risk of an avalanche. Drivers are advised not to travel up the road to the resort.