A winter storm Wednesday led to icy roads and power outages across Vancouver Island.
Drive BC says Highway 14 is closed in both directions due to downed hydro lines between Waters Edge Drive and Jordan River Recsite for 1.5 km (Jordan River). There is no detour available and no estimated time of opening.
There is black ice on the Trans-Canada Highway between Tolmie Lane and Shawnigan Lake Road for 26.6 kilometres.
Police are also warning drivers about icy roads.
Several reports of icy roads in Saanich this morning. Please drive with care. #yyjtraffic #icyroads #Saanich pic.twitter.com/HBGKKygXXt
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) January 16, 2020
Currently heavy, wet and blowing snow in #portAlberni accumulating fast. This video was just the start it has since gone more sideways and whiter.#bcstorm #bcsnow #AlberniWXStorm pic.twitter.com/5IJLFGwHdW
— Alberni Weather (@alberniweather) January 16, 2020
Drive BC says Highway 14 is closed in both directions due to downed hydro lines between Waters Edge Drive and Jordan River Recsite for 1.5 km (Jordan River). There is no detour available and no estimated time of opening.
There were some BC Ferries cancellations this morning due to high winds including:
- Comox (Little River) – Powell River (Westview) 6:15 a.m. leaving Comox, 8:05 a.m. leaving Powell River
- Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay) 6:15 a.m. leaving Horseshoe Bay, 6:15 a.m. leaving Departure Bay, 8:25 a.m. leaving Departure Bay, 8:25 a.m. leaving Horseshoe Bay. Sailings resumed with the 10:40 a.m. departing Horseshoe Bay and the 10:30 a.m. sailing leaving Depature Bay.
Thousands of customers are also without power on Vancouver Island. BC Hydro said snow and strong winds have made work and access on Vancouver Island difficult.
High winds and snow caused branches and trees to fall onto power lines. BC Hydro said at the peak of the storm last night around 30,000 customers were without power on the Island and B.C. South Coast. BC Hydro has already restored power to the majority of affected customers, and will continue to work throughout the day.
The hardest hit areas as of 6:30 a.m. include:
- Courtenay: around 4,000 customers without power
- Port Alberni: around 2,000 customers without power
- Ucluelet: around 2,000 customers without power
- Sechelt: around 1,700 customers without power
- Victoria: around 1,300 customers without power
Weather permitting, crews will also be onsite at 10 a.m. today in Sarita Bay to begin work to restore power to customers in the area.
For customers currently without power in Jordan River, conditions permitting, crews will return this morning to repair damage in the area and restore power.
There are some school closures due to the winter weather. A full list can be found here.
CHEK News
