Wind warning upgraded for Vancouver Island, B.C. coast as 'significant fall storm' approaches

Wind warnings have been issued for most of Vancouver Island and coastal B.C. as a “significant fall storm” is expected to arrive Sunday night.

Wind warnings have been issued for most of Vancouver Island and coastal B.C. as a “significant fall storm” is expected to arrive Sunday night.

The warnings were upgraded Sunday afternoon from a special weather statement issued Friday.

Environment and Climate Change Canada said the storm may cause property damage and power outages around the entire perimeter of Vancouver Island, as well as the southern Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast the central coast and Metro Vancouver.

The strongest winds are expected in northern Vancouver Island and sections of the central coast near the Queen Charlotte Strait, where winds near 100 km/h gusting to 120 km/h are in the forecast. In that area, the winds are expected to pick up again on Monday night.

On Vancouver Island’s west coast, winds blowing 80 km/h gusting to 100 km/h are forecasted. On the east coast, including Greater Victoria, and the Sunshine Coast from Saltery Bay to Powell River, winds will be a little lower at 70 km/h gusting to 90 km/h near the water.

In Metro Vancouver-- which is not under a wind warning, but rather a special weather statement--the wind is forecast to hit Monday morning and continue into Monday night. The strongest winds will be near the water, where they are expected to blow at 50 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. 

“This is the first wind storm of this autumn with full foliage. The heavy tree branches are more prone to break in strong winds and it may lead to more damage and power outages than subsequent wind storms of similar wind speeds later in the season,” the weather agency wrote in Sunday’s alert.