Parts of B.C. could be without power for days as storm continues to batter province

B.C. Hydro is warning that some drenched areas of the province could be without power for days, as a fall storm continued to make its presence felt on Wednesday. Some areas of British Columbia have been without power since late last week after a series of storms rolled through, with more than 400,000 customers in total left without power between Friday and Monday, according to B.C. Hydro. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has maintained a number of rainfall and wind warnings throughout B.C. on Wednesday, saying more than 250 millimetres of rain is possible for parts of western and inland Vancouver Island.

Flood watches are also in place throughout southwest B.C., as officials warn drivers to be prepared for pooling water and debris on the South Coast after the storm made landfall on Tuesday. In an update on Tuesday night, B.C. Hydro said that restoring power after the parade of storms has proven challenging due to the extensive repairs required. "Access remains challenging in some areas due to fallen trees, debris and soft ground conditions," the utility said.

The village of Zeballos on northwest Vancouver Island, where an evacuation order was issued last week due to a landslide, will likely remain without power for a few more days yet, it said. "Specialized equipment is required and must be transported by helicopter due to the remote location and challenging terrain," the B.C. Hydro update reads. "The earliest crews can access the site is Thursday, provided weather conditions allow safe access."

Warning for drivers The weather warnings posted throughout B.C. cover the entirety of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, as well as the Sunshine Coast, the central Interior and Prince George areas, and portions of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Canyon. In west and inland Vancouver Island, ECCC says that rainfall rates could go as high as 20 millimetres per hour at times on Wednesday, and up to 160 millimetres of rain could fall on the Sea-to-Sky Highway by Thursday morning.

"Localized flooding is likely. Some roads may become impassable," the warning reads. B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday, warning commuters on the South Coast to be prepared and check DriveBC before heading out. Areas that could be most affected, according to the ministry's traffic advisory, are the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon, and the Malahat and western coast communities on Vancouver Island.