Environment Canada says the first of a series of Christmas week storms forecast for British Columbia's coast is moving inland, after bringing 140 km/h winds to some exposed coastal areas.
But there will be no respite for Vancouver Island the south coast, with a second storm expected to bring very strong winds and heavy rain on Christmas morning.
Wind warnings remained in place for much of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, with Environment Canada warning of high winds in western sections of Metro Vancouver near the water, Greater Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands, East Vancouver Island, and Sunshine Coast on Dec. 25.
A rainfall warning has been issued for west Vancouver Island, with up to 100 millimetres of rain expected, with Environment Canada saying to watch for flash floods, water pooling on roads and localized flooding. The heavy rain is forecast to ease to showers on Christmas night.
The initial storm that arrived late Monday brought gusts up to 142 km/h to the west coast of the Island overnight, before moving out of the region Tuesday morning.
Environment Canada said the next storm is expected arrive early on Christmas Day, with B.C. Ferries warning that multiple routes might be affected by high winds forecast for the Strait of Georgia and north Vancouver Island.
The wind is forecast to start late in the morning and last through the day before gradually easing on Christmas night.
Very strong winds gusting to 100 km/h are possible for Greater Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands and Courtenay to Campbell River, the forecaster said, with gusts up to 120 km/h elsewhere on the Island.
Environment Canada said to expect travel disruptions and possible power outages, and said the wind could toss loose objects and damage outdoor holiday decorations.
B.C. Ferries is warning travellers that Wednesday sailings between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route and all service between Nanaimo’s Duke Point and Tsawwassen on Christmas Day are at risk of cancellation.
Wednesday sailings between 10:40 a.m. and 10:10 p.m. between Departure Bay in Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver are also at risk, as are trips between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands.
Sailings between Powell River and Texada Island, as well as service between Port McNeill, Alert Bay and Sointula, are also at risk of cancellation on Christmas Day.
“We know you have important places to be. We will monitor the weather conditions and we will share updates with you as further information becomes available,” B.C. Ferries said in a statement.
Travellers are asked to check the B.C. Ferries website for the most up-to-date information and current sailing conditions.
A third weather system is expected to approach southern Vancouver Island early Thursday, but Environment Canada said there's uncertainty about its path.
The agency says an anticipated southern track would confine the strongest winds and heavy rain to the south coast.
Vancouver Island and the B.C. coastline have been besieged by storms since October.
A storm on the weekend of Nov. 19 left four people dead, including two drivers whose vehicles were washed off a road near Bamfield.
Two others on the Lower Mainland also died: a Coquitlam woman whose home was struck by a mudslide, and a man who entered the Coquitlam River to try to rescue a dog.
Earlier this month, a powerful storm triggered a mudslide that killed two people in North Vancouver and cut the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler.
The Dec. 14 storm left hundreds of thousands of B.C. Hydro customers without electricity. About 20,000 of those were on Vancouver Island.
B.C. Hydro has been warning of weather-related power outages caused by drought-weakened trees and other vegetation this fall and winter following a multi-year drought in the province.
