Straight Talk

Environment Canada warns of strong winds in parts of Metro Vancouver and Sunshine Coast

Some ferry sailings have been cancelled and power outages have already occurred in North Vancouver and on Keats Island

by Charlie Smith on January 2nd, 2022 at 7:21 AM
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      The Lower Mainland has experienced snow and freezing rain on the New Year's Day weekend, so why not a windstorm as well?

      At 5:36 a.m. on January 2, Environment Canada issued a warning for an extended period of strong winds during the day and night.

      They'll come from the southeast at 70 kilometres per hour, gusting to 90 at times.

      They will strike the southern sections of Metro Vancouver, including Langley, Surrey, Richmond, and Delta, as well as the Southern Gulf Islands and Greater Victoria near Haro Strait.

      "Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage," the national weather forecaster stated. "High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break."

      That's in addition to any other hazards that residents may experience today as a result of rising temperatures causing rapid snow melting and, of course, the rain.

      Meanwhile, snow and freezing rain are forecast for the southern and northern Sunshine Coast areas, according to another special weather statement from Environment Canada at 5:37 a.m.

      Just over an hour earlier, at 4:28 a.m., Environment Canada also warned of strong winds from East Vancouver Island to Nanoose Bay to Campbell River, as well as on the northern Sunshine Coast from Saltery Bay to Powell River.

      High winds will interrupt some ferry service to the Sunshine Coast.
      B.C. Ferries

      Some ferry sailings cancelled

      As a result of the high winds, B.C. Ferries has cancelled the following sailings on January 2:

      * 10:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. from Tsawwassen to Duke Point

      * 12:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. from Duke Point to Tsawwassen

      * 5:30 p.m. and 7:50 p.m. from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale

      * 6:40 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay

      There's also a modified schedule for the rest of the day for sailings to and from the Sunshine Coast.

      The Salish Orca continues to be held in dock at Little River (Comox) because of loosened metal sheeting. And the Northern Sea Wolf voyages to communities on B.C,'s central coast continue to be cancelled today.

      B.C. Hydro reported some power failures last night. This morning, it also noted that 1,655 customers have lost electricity in North Vancouver and another 330 are without power on Keats Island near the town of Gibsons.

      The recent weather disturbances have led to a flurry of posts on social media, which you can see below.

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