Environment Canada says the first of a series of Christmas week storms forecast for British Columbia’s coast is moving inland, after bringing 140 kilometre per hour winds to some exposed coastal areas.
But there will be no respite for the South Coast, including in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, with a second powerful storm expected to bring more strong winds and heavy rain on Christmas morning.
The initial storm that arrived late Monday brought gusts up to 142 km/h to the west coast of Vancouver Island overnight, before moving out of the region Tuesday morning.
Looking ahead to Christmas Day, Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for the western sections of Metro Vancouver near the water, as well as Greater Victoria, the Southern Gulf Islands, East Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, where winds could reach up to 100 km/h.
The weather agency is also warning of particularly heavy rain for all of Metro Vancouver and Squamish. Of note is the forecast for the North Shore, northern Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, where residents can expect up to 100 millimetres of rain.
Several other wind and rain warnings are also in effect for the province, and can be viewed on the Environment Canada storm information page.
Ferry cancellations
Environment Canada says the Christmas Day storm will arrive early in the morning, and B.C. Ferries is warning that multiple routes may be affected by high winds forecast for the Strait of Georgia and northern Vancouver Island.
As of midday Tuesday, B.C. Ferries said cancellations were possible for sailings along all major routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, all Southern Gulf Islands, Hornby and Denman islands, Quadra and Cortes islands, Powell River and Texada Island, and Port McNeil, Alert Bay, and Sointula.
Meanwhile, it outright cancelled several sailings on Christmas Day between Comox and Powell River.
For the most current information on coastal ferry disruptions, visit the B.C. Ferries service notices page.
Boxing Day storm
The third weather event expected to hit this week is a low-pressure system that Environment Canada says will approach southern Vancouver Island early Thursday, although there’s uncertainty about its path.
The agency says an anticipated southern track would confine the strongest winds and heavy rain to the South Coast.