Thousands Without Power in British Columbia As Second Storm Hits

a large fallen evergreen tree branch resting heavily on sagging overhead power lines along a wet residential street lined with tall pine trees under a gray over

AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.

Second Storm Strikes British Columbia, Causing Widespread Power Outages

Thousands of residents in British Columbia remained without electricity after a second significant storm swept through the region, impacting the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The severe weather, marked by strong winds, continued to disrupt power supplies and damage infrastructure across affected areas.

Extent of Power Outages

At the peak of the storm around 1 a.m. local time on Sunday, nearly 135,000 people across British Columbia experienced power outages. By 7 a.m., the number had reduced to approximately 63,000 as restoration efforts progressed. The outages were concentrated in cities such as Surrey, Duncan, Port Hardy, and Prince George, with these locations experiencing significant service interruptions due to falling branches and trees damaging power lines and equipment.

Accumulated Storm Impact Since Friday

The recent power outages come on the heels of a series of storms that began affecting the province on Friday. Since then, British Columbia has recorded over 380,000 power outages overall. According to BC Hydro, about 317,000 customers have had their electricity restored since Friday, but the continued strong winds were expected to cause further complications and potential additional outages throughout Sunday.

BC Hydro’s Response and Ongoing Restoration Efforts

BC Hydro reported that crews were prepared and responded promptly as the storm system arrived. "We prepared for this storm and had crews and resources ready to respond immediately," stated Whitney Deane, spokesperson for BC Hydro. The utility’s response teams have worked steadily to address the widespread electricity disruptions, but officials warned that repairs may continue as more storm damage is anticipated before weather conditions improve later.

Most Impacted Areas

Communities such as Surrey, Duncan, Port Hardy, and Prince George were particularly affected as strong winds toppled trees and severed power connections. As a result, local infrastructure faced extensive challenges, and residents in these regions experienced fluctuating service as crews worked to assess and repair damage caused by the storm.

Forecast and Ongoing Concerns

With winds not expected to subside until later Sunday, BC Hydro cautioned that the number of storm outages could rise before conditions stabilize. The utility emphasized ongoing progress in power restoration but warned that the potential for new electricity disruptions remains until the weather system moves on.