VANCOUVER — A strong line of storms that moved north from Washington overnight downed trees in Metro Vancouver and led to power outages for thousands of homes.
On Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special weather statement warning that strong winds and thunderstorms with heavy downpours were expected across the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island on Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
The Weather Network added that this system was a rare event for this time of year.
“Any of the storms that push through the area could pack frequent lightning, heavy downpours, and wind gusts up to 90 km/h. This places a risk for severe thunderstorms across an area that rarely sees such potent storm activity,” the agency warned.
At the height of the storm, B.C. Hydro was reporting 12,000 homes without power, as lightning was seen across the region.
As of Sunday at 10 a.m., there were 6,000 homes without power in Metro Vancouver.
The Weather Network is warning that additional thunderstorm activity could develop over southern Vancouver Island by late Sunday afternoon and into the evening.
“These storms could contain frequent lightning, gusty winds and downpours,” the agency said. “Forecasters can’t rule out a storm or two reaching severe limits.”
Meteorologist Michael Kuss said that humidity experienced in Metro Vancouver before the storm will dissipate, leading to cooler weather over the next few days.
The Weather Network says another pocket of severe weather is expected into B.C.’s central Interior on Sunday, where storms could bubble up near Prince George and Williams Lake.
