Ferries are staying docked at Departure Bay through much of Thursday, Dec. 18 as a result of high winds forecast for the Salish Sea. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

ferry cancellations

Forecasted high winds cancelling some Nanaimo-Vancouver ferry crossings

Dec 18, 2025 | 10:11 AM

NANAIMO — With strong winds in the forecast, particularly along the Strait of Georgia, multiple ferries are being cancelled between Vancouver Island and the Mainland.

BC Ferries announced, on Thursday, Dec. 18, both the 10:55 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. sailings from Departure Bay in Nanaimo, along with corresponding 11:05 a.m. and 1:25 p.m. crossings from Horseshoe Bay were cancelled “as a result of Environment Canada’s severe weather forecast for high winds.”

Sailings are currently scheduled to resume with 4 p.m. departures from both terminals.

Both the 10:15 a.m. from Nanaimo’s Duke Point and the 12:45 p.m. return crossing from Tsawwassen were also cancelled Thursday.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement around an hour before the sailing cancellations, covering the southern Gulf Islands, including Gabriola Island, as well as much of the Salish Sea between Nanaimo and Vancouver.

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Winds are expected to increase substantially through Thursday afternoon and through the evening.

“An approaching low pressure centre will track across the south coast this afternoon. Strong southeasterly winds with gusts near 80 kilometres per hour expected ahead of the system during the day for places near Strait of Georgia.”

As the storm passes, winds following will be between 50 and 80 kilometres per hour Thursday evening before gradually easing, according to Environment Canada.

Environment Canada noted local utility outages are possible during the high wind event in the mid-Vancouver Island area and that parks and forests are likely to sustain some damage.

“There is a risk to injury from flying or falling debris,” the special weather statement from Environment Canada noted.

The storm comes after somewhat of a bombardment for the region this week.

Over 15,000 BC Hydro customers had power knocked out in the Nanaimo, Parksville-Qualicum Beach areas on Monday, Dec. 15 as a result of a first storm moving through, while over 100,000 Lower Mainland customers were also knocked off the grid the following day from a second storm.

“Local utility outages may occur,” Environment Canada warned of the approaching storm. “Parks and forests will likely sustain some damage. There is a risk to injury from flying or falling debris.”

The special weather statement also covers most of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, as well as parts of the Sunshine Coast.

A yellow alert for wind is in effect for the Greater Victoria area, with gusts upwards of 90 kilometres per hour expected.

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