Sailings between Nanaimo and Vancouver Island continue to be cancelled due to high winds in the Strait of Georgia. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MORE CANCELLATIONS

Strong winds batter Island, extend Nanaimo ferry cancellations

Oct 25, 2021 | 1:43 PM

NANAIMO — An intensely strong storm system is continuing to cause headaches for ferry travellers.

The system, which set a new record for lowest barometric pressure recorded in the Pacific Northwest before hitting land, is bringing driving winds to much of Vancouver Island.

BC Ferries had previously cancelled their Monday, Oct. 25 morning sailings in advance of the storm, but have expanded their cancellations to include most of the day’s schedule.

Sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point are cancelled up to and including the 5:45 p.m. departures on both sides. Ships on the Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay route will sit idle until at least after dinner.

A complete listed of cancelled sailings is available on the BC Ferries website.

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Gusts of 60 to nearly 90 kilometres per hour were recorded Monday morning, with the strongest hitting the northern half of Georgia Strait.

Wind gusts of around 70 kilometres per hour were measured over parts of Metro Vancouver.

Power outages were widespread for the Lower Mainland and parts of Vancouver Island, however the Nanaimo and Oceanside region have been relatively unaffected.

BC Hydro’s Ted Olynyk said crews are attending calls on a priority basis.

“We’ll work on the transmission line…but safety is number one, dealing with downed lines. Then trying to bring on as many customers as we can then attending to areas and lines which feed critical infrastructure in communities.”

Environment Canada suggests the storm should move north and inland into Monday evening, with winds in the Strait of Georgia forecast to drop from around 30 knots, to 15-20 knots.

Effects from the storm should be completely gone by Tuesday, Oct. 26, with lights winds forecast by the evening.

–with files from The Canadian Press and 97.3 The Eagle

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