Things are about to get windy, Victoria!
Residents of Vancouver Island and the surrounding Southern Gulf Islands are urged to prepare for potentially damaging winds as Environment Canada issues a wind warning for several regions.
A pacific front swept across the south coast this morning, bringing with it southeast winds of 70 km/h, gusting up to 90 km/h. The winds are impacting some areas of Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands.
These winds are expected to diminish soon.
On Saturday night, a second system is expected to bring more heavy winds to Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands, with wind gusts reaching 80 km/h to 100 km/h.
These winds are anticipated to start late in the evening and continue into Sunday morning before subsiding.
Additionally, strong southeast winds of 70 km/h gusting to 90 km/h will develop late tonight across areas of eastern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
Environment Canada warned areas adjacent to the Strait of Georgia have the potential for minor coastal flooding at high tide on Sunday morning.
BC Ferries cancelled several Saturday sailings between Victoria and Vancouver due to forecasted high winds in the Strait of Georgia. The cancelled sailings include:
- 8 a.m. departure from Tsawwassen
- 10 a.m. departure from Swartz Bay
- 12 p.m. departure from Tsawwassen
- 2 p.m. departure from Swartz Bay
“If conditions do not improve, additional sailings may need to be cancelled and we will let you know if that happens,” warned BC Ferries in an update.
Although cancellations were announced, BC Ferries has managed to resume services, albeit with delays for each sailing.
