‘Bomb Cyclone’ Strikes BC Coast: Highways Shut Down, Thousands Left Without Power

A woman wears a plastic poncho as rain falls in Vancouver, on Sept. 25, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

A “bomb cyclone” that hit parts of the B.C. coast late Nov. 19 brought wind gusts reaching 160 km/h, wide-scale power outages, and multiple road closures.

Bomb cyclone is a term given by meteorologists to a storm that appears to intensify rapidly, caused by a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure at its centre.

Environment Canada issued more than 50 warnings, advisories, and alerts during the late afternoon and evening hours across Vancouver Island, other coastal areas, and further into the Interior.

The weather agency said the worst of the storm was expected overnight when winds in the central and north coast could peak at 120 km/h, though the remote Sartine Island was already seeing winds exceeding 130 km/h in the afternoon.

Additional wind warnings were issued Nov. 20 with easterly gusts up to 90 km/h forecasted for East Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Greater Victoria, and the Southern Gulf Islands.

While some areas are also expected to receive heavy rain, it is the wind that remains the primary concern, Environment Canada said in an early morning advisory.

“A significant fall storm is impacting Vancouver Island and the BC south coast,” the weather agency said. “A rapidly deepening low pressure system has arrived approximately 500 km west of Vancouver Island. This low is forecast to curl northwards today towards the Central Coast, remaining offshore through the period.”

Elevated ocean levels accompanied by strong winds will bring high waves to coastal areas as well, Environment Canada said. Minor coastal flooding due to storm surge and high tide is expected during the late morning hours. The strong winds are expected to ease late in the day.

The province is advising drivers to avoid travel this morning due to roads littered with debris and potential downed power lines.

“Drivers can expect additional closures as the storm moves through,” the B.C. government said in a press release. “As soon as it’s safe to do so, maintenance contractors will begin clearing debris, and BC Hydro is prioritizing repairs to the many power outages across the island.”

There were 313 power outages as of 7 a.m. PT, leaving nearly 100,000 residents without power, according to BC Hydro.

BC Ferries cancelled several sailings early Nov. 20 and said more cancellations could be on the way due to the forecasted winds.

“We are currently monitoring the weather conditions with the goal of getting you underway as soon as it’s safe to do so,” the company said. “If conditions do not improve, additional sailings may need to be cancelled and we will let you know if that happens.”

Sheltering in Place

The “bomb cyclone” that hit the coast Nov. 19 forced a small group of students to take refuge in a Vancouver Island school for several hours. The Sooke School District announced on Facebook just before 4 p.m. PT that school bus routes had been disrupted by downed power lines on Highway 14 near Port Renfrew.

The students from Port Renfrew, B.C., and the Pacheedaht First Nation were redirected to a nearby high school where they sheltered in place, along with a bus driver, under staff supervision, the school district said.

“The students from Route 60 have arrived safely at their residences,” the school district said in a 10 p.m. PT post. “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the principals of EMCS and Journey Middle School along with school staff for their care, staying with the students while waiting for the road to reopen and serving everyone a pizza dinner.”

The City of Port Alberni opened a warming and group lodging facility at the community pool and recreation centre to accommodate those stranded by the storm or left without a heat source.

“Highway 4 will be closed overnight,” the city said in an evening Facebook post. “If you need assistance or a warm place to sleep, please come to Echo 67' Centre. Emergency Support Services (ESS) volunteers are there ready to provide support.”

Port Alberni RCMP said emergency responders were dispatched to multiple collisions due to the high winds and downed trees on Highway 4 between Port Alberni and Oceanside.

The Port Alberni and Cherry Creek fire departments were called out after a tree fell on a semi-truck on Highway 4. The driver was not hurt, but the cab of the truck sustained major damage, according to news reports.

The warnings about the bomb cyclone came after much of Metro Vancouver saw its first snowfall of the season Nov. 17.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.