Wind knocks out power to 30,000 Lower Mainland homes ahead of Thanksgiving
Strong gusts downed trees and branches across Burnaby, Vancouver, Port Coquitlam and Surrey, leaving thousands without electricity and delaying B.C. Ferries sailings Friday.
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More than 30,000 homes across the Lower Mainland lost power Friday as strong winds downed trees and branches across the region. About 20,000 remained without electricity by Friday afternoon.
Burnaby was hardest hit with roughly 15,000 households affected, followed by Vancouver with 7,000, Port Coquitlam with 6,000, and Surrey with 4,000. B.C. Hydro said the outages were "primarily caused by trees and branches coming into contact with power lines and electrical equipment as a result of strong wind conditions." The utility noted that many trees still carried significant foliage, making them more susceptible to wind damage. Environment Canada had forecast wind gusts up to 50 km/h in Vancouver and up to 70 km/h near the Strait of Georgia but did not issue a wind warning.
The outages disrupted transit across the region. A power failure at Tsawwassen ferry terminal delayed afternoon sailings, with the 3:15 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. departures affected by ripple effects. Sailings from Swartz Bay and between Texada Island and Powell River were also delayed or cancelled. The Duke Point-Tsawwassen route, already running behind schedule from an earlier mechanical issue with a vessel door, saw its 5:45 p.m. sailing affected.
The disruptions came ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend, when many residents were planning trips off the Lower Mainland.
The facts
How many Lower Mainland homes lost power on Friday, October 9, 2026?
More than 30,000 homes lost power across the Lower Mainland on Friday, October 9, 2026, with about 20,000 still without electricity by Friday afternoon.
Which Lower Mainland city was hardest hit by the outages?
Burnaby was hardest hit with roughly 15,000 households affected, followed by Vancouver with 7,000, Port Coquitlam with 6,000, and Surrey with 4,000.
What caused the power outages?
Strong winds downed trees and branches that came into contact with power lines and electrical equipment. Trees still carrying significant foliage were particularly susceptible to wind damage.
Which B.C. Ferries sailings were affected by the outages?
The 3:15 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen were affected by a power failure at the terminal. Sailings from Swartz Bay and between Texada Island and Powell River were also delayed or cancelled, and the 5:45 p.m. Duke Point-Tsawwassen sailing was affected.
