Rainfall and wind warnings lifted for B.C. on Boxing Day

By The Canadian Press on December 26, 2024.

A person walks past a Christmas tree and "Heart" sign with an umbrella on a rainy Christmas Day in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

VANCOUVER – Environment Canada has lifted all heavy rainfall and strong wind warnings for B.C. on Boxing Day after residents went through a wet and windy Christmas.

The warnings came after a low-pressure system had brought wind gusts that were travelling up to 140 kilometres per hour in some coastal areas.

The strongest wind gust over the province had been recorded on the Sartine Island with wind gusts measuring up to 162km/h on Wednesday afternoon.

The stormy weather had also led to widespread ferry cancellations and power outage with more than 5,000 people sitting in the dark in the province at one point on Christmas Day.

The snowfall warning is still in effect for Coquihalla Highway, between Hope and Merritt, and Highway 3 – Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

The weather agency says a Pacific frontal system is bringing a total of 15 centimetres of snow to the Coquihalla Highway while Highway 3 is expected to receive a total of snowfall of 20 to 30 centimetres.

It says snowfall will intensify near noon and then ease on Thursday evening.

BC Hydro says around 2,300 customers were without power in the province as of noon on Boxing Day.

BC Ferries issued a fresh round of travel advisories on Thursday at noon, and some sailings between Metro Vancouver and the Vancouver Islands have been resumed.

The ferry firm says sailings between Tsawwassen in Vancouver and Swartz Bay in Victoria, Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver and Departure Bay in Nanaimo are available throughout the rest of Boxing Day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024.