Crews will be heading to an outage affecting 5,000 customers in #RichmondBC. They'll share updates here: https://t.co/yKhkT4weAZ pic.twitter.com/iwucIbZ3aJ
— BC Hydro (@bchydro) December 20, 2018
The windstorm currently battering the Lower Mainland has caused four major power outages in Richmond, so far.
Meanwhile, in White Rock, a section of the pier collapsed after being hammered by stricken pleasure boats, trapping a man on the far side of the pier. He was eventually rescued by a helicopter.
This footage of the #whiterock rescue is crazy! So happy the man is ok but so sad for our poor pier. #bcstorm #whiterockpier pic.twitter.com/d2Bc9H4ZgR
— South Rock Buzz (@SouthRockBuzz) December 21, 2018
Current situation at #GarryPoint. #RichmondBC #windmageddon @CTVVancouver @GlobalBC @cbcnewsbc @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/cLLshfsSHw
— g (@gloomybb) December 20, 2018
By 4:30 p.m., the power was out for large parts of Sea Island and south Richmond, with more than 9,000 BC Hydro customers affected.
Tree down into a house in #RichmondBC #Vancouver #windstorm @GlobalBC @NEWS1130 @CBCVancouver @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/qHGQkoz9SQ
— Clayton Perry (@VanCityClayton) December 20, 2018
Around the same time on Thursday, almost 120,000 customers were without power in the Lower Mainland and more than 100,000 on Vancouver Island.
Meanwhile, the City of Richmond has closed several trails as a precaution.
Hi. Thanks for the info. We have closed Shell Rd trail, along with Horseshoe Way trail and the Terra Nova rural area. #RichmondBC Nature Park trails will be closed as needed. Please use caution when out in parks and avoid heavily wooded areas. Be safe out there!
— City of Richmond (@Richmond_BC) December 20, 2018
The main outage in Richmond was bound by Blundell Road to the north, Railway Avenue to the west, No. 3 Road to the east and all the way down to Dyke Road in the south.
Small parts of north Richmond and east Richmond, around Highway 99 and Westminster Highway, were affected.
Please be cautious when outside. Be prepared and charge and keep a handy.
— City of Richmond (@Richmond_BC) December 20, 2018
▪️Report downed to #RichmondBC’s 24hr dispatch line: 604-270-8721
▪️To report power outage, call @bchydro at 1-800-224-9376
▪️If you encounter downed power lines, stay 10 metres away & call 9-1-1 https://t.co/GRRN7l8LCu
Trees also fell across the city.
Parts of southern British Columbia were hit by a powerful wind storm today that left thousands of BC Hydro customers without power on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast.
BC Hydro says about 330,000 customers late Thursday afternoon didn’t have electricity on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and on the Sunshine Coast.
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for those areas saying a powerful low pressure system was sweeping into the B.C. coast, bringing winds in the range of 70 to 90 km/h with gusts up to 100 km/h.
