First storm of the week brings wind, rain and snow to Vancouver Island

CHEK

WATCH: Ferry cancellations cause travel headaches while others enjoy windy conditions that whipped parts of Vancouver Island today. Dean Stoltz reports.

The wind and crashing waves at Point Holmes in Comox sounded more like a freight train as the strong south-easterlies barreled up the Georgia Strait.

The howling winds were too much for ferries on several routes to the northern gulf islands as well as the main route from Comox to Powell River. Service didn’t resume on that route until 3:25 p.m. Tuesday.

But, the winds weren’t bad news for everyone. Kite surfers took advantage of the blustering blows at Goose Spit in Comox.

“It’s a lot of power. It’s amazing to have that much power and it’s a great thing to do'” said Russ Hicks.

“It’s getting up to about 45-knot gusts.”

BC Hydro says it’s watching the forecast for even more rain in the coming days, and will be dropping the level of the Comox Lake reservoir to allow two to three times as much water out from the Comox dam.

“Tonight we will increase the discharge from Comox dam from about 30 m3/s to about 55 m3/s, nearly a two-fold increase,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson.

“We may go higher to about 90 m3/s, or about three times the current river flow if the inflows end up being higher than forecast.”

In the higher elevations, it was snow that fell overnight. Over 20 centimeters fell at Mount Washington.

And it looks like the resort could get a lot more snow this week as at least two weather systems are lining up to hit the mountain.

“We’re super famous for getting loads of snow like we’re seeing right now and it’s not uncommon for us to get more than enough in the next few days so we’re definitely looking at the forecast,” said Mount Washington’s Sheila Rivers.

“The base is looking really solid so check us out online to make sure you’re in the know for opening day.”

Dean StoltzDean Stoltz

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!