Widespread Hydro Outages
A powerful windstorm has knocked out power to thousands of homes in the eastern Fraser Valley, with more than 11,000 customers affected across the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast.
In the Agassiz-Harrison area alone, over 1,800 customers are without power due to high winds. The outages extend to the Seabird Island area, where more than 900 customers are also impacted.
BC Hydro has reported three separate outages in Agassiz-Harrison, with additional outages affecting 717 customers in Lake Errock, 827 in Harrison Mills, and 325 in the Sts’sailes area.
Chilliwack is experiencing significant disruptions as well, with at least 36 outages affecting more than 8,200 customers. Wind gusts in the region are expected to reach up to 90 km/h, with some reports indicating gusts as high as 100 km/h.
One of the notable outages south of Vedder Mountain Road in Chilliwack involves 1,140 customers, while over 1,100 customers in Cultus Lake lost power as of 9:16 p.m.
Residents have expressed their concerns on social media, reporting that their houses have been shaking due to the violent winds. In light of these conditions, authorities have advised residents to secure loose objects and to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada.
The cause of the outages is currently under investigation, and details remain unconfirmed.
As the situation develops, BC Hydro crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible, but the extent of the damage caused by the windstorm may prolong the outages for many customers.
Residents are urged to stay informed about the latest updates regarding power restoration efforts and to take necessary precautions during this severe weather event.
