BC Ferries has cancelled a number of sailings Friday due to strong winds expected to sweep the south coast.
The high winds led to the cancellation of the following sailings:
- Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay — 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
- Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen — 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m.
- Tsawwassen-Duke Point — 10:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m.
- Duke Point-Tsawwassen — 12:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.
- Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay — 10:40 a.m., 1 p.m.
- Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay — 10:40 a.m., 1 p.m.
- Powell River-Comox — 9:55 a.m., 11:50 a.m.
- Powell River-Texada Island —8:35 a.m., 9:20 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 11:25 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
Those with reservations on the affected sailings would be advised and refunded, according to the company.
It comes after Environment Canada issued a wind warning for Greater Victoria, one day after a winter storm shut down buses and schools and caused widespread power outages on much of Vancouver Island.
From Friday morning to early afternoon, wind speeds were expected to reach up to 70 kilometres an hour with gusts of up to 90 kilometres an hour, especially in parts of Greater Victoria near the Juan de Fuca Strait.
The strong winds are a result of an “intense low-pressure system” that is expected to ease through Friday afternoon.
“Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break,” Environment Canada said in its warning.
But there’s some good news in the forecast, with meteorologists expecting a return to more traditional winter weather on Vancouver Island following the winter storm.
“Other than the highest elevations on the Island, we’re going to be transitioning into more of a wet pattern,” said Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Proctor forecasts a more traditional west coast winter weather picture is on the way, with road conditions set to improve.
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