NANAIMO — Brisk winds from an ongoing storm system zapped power to large numbers of people across the mid-Island.
Nearly 5,000 BC Hydro customers lost power between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15 as a result of blustery winds knocking over branches and trees into power lines.
The largest outage, as of publication, was in the Dashwood area, affecting 1,475 customers, while neighbouring Hilliers and Bowser had another 2,000 off the grid.
BC Hydro has assigned crews to the area, but there is no estimated time of power returning as of 11 a.m.
Listed outages, as of 11 a.m. in the Oceanside area, affecting over 3,000 customers.(BC Hydro)Further south, approximately 452 customers in Nanaimo’s Labieux Rd. corridor lost power around 9:25 a.m. as result of a wire being down.
BC Hydro estimates power to be restored by early Monday afternoon.
Another nearly 900 customers were in a similar situation in Chase River and along Hwy. 1 south of the city.
Strong winds are forecast to ease through the afternoon, but not before gusts upwards of 70 kilometres per hour hit the area.
Windy conditions, along with considerable rainfall, are in the forecast for much of the week, with a yellow rainfall warning in effect for the Oceanside region.
Between 70 to 90 millimetres is expected to fall.
Two outages in Nanaimo have around 1,200 customers without electricity Monday morning. (BC Hydro)We’re on Bluesky! Stay up to date on news across central Vancouver Island through Bluesky, by following @NanaimoNewsNOW.bsky.social.
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