Massive Vancouver wind storm knocks out power to thousands (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Vancouver is being taken by storm. A wind storm.

Thousands of people are without power as Metro Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast experiences both a rainfall and wind warning. Environment Canada is reporting risks of a thunderstorm early this afternoon and that winds could reach up to 90 km/h this afternoon before dissipating later today.

It’s tough to know exactly how many are without power as BC Hydro’s outage site is even experiencing an outage, but reports are saying anywhere from 12,000 to 25,000 customers are currently affected in Metro Vancouver.

If you see a fallen or damaged power line on the ground, stay at least 10 metres away and call 911 to let them know. Always assume power lines are live, even if they’re not sparking or making any sounds. Also, stay at least three metres away from power lines close to your home.

Unless it’s an emergency, call 311 or 1-888-POWER-ON about outages.

• UPDATE 1:10 p.m. – Stanley Park has been shut down
• UPDATE 1:25 p.m. – BC Hydro says there are 200,000 customers without power
• UPDATE 1:54 p.m. – SkyTrain’s Expo and Millenium Line is running, with delays
• UPDATE 1:54 p.m. – PNE Playland is still open, but 75% of rides are closed
• UPDATE 2:55 p.m. – PNE is closed for the day, those who purchased ride passes will receive a complimentary pass for another day
• UPDATE 3:17 p.m. – Nearly 300,000 customers without power in Metro Vancouver alone, over 325,000 around B.C.
• UPDATE 3:27 p.m. – PNE is back open for the day, and free for everyone
• UPDATE 4:20 p.m. – Over 400,000 customers without power in Metro Vancouver
• UPDATE 7:20 p.m. – Roadways in Stanley Park are back open
• UPDATE 10:08 p.m. – BC Hydro hopes to have power restored to most customers by noon on Sunday. They’ve even brought in crews from Prince George to help with restoration efforts.
• UPDATE Monday, August 31 8:05 a.m. – Approximately 60,000 customers are still without power. BC Hydro is working on restoring power but, for some, it could take as long as tonight.

Winds were so strong that they knocked down fences at the Vancouver Zoo and saw a grizzly bear getting loose, forcing the evacuation of the zoo, according to Global News.

More to come…

 

Video of a damaged power line sparking in Vancouver from today’s storm, submitted by a reader:

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Two trees down in #Vancouver at Howe & Nelson. Southbound traffic is completely blocked—@bchydro is on scene. pic.twitter.com/nE7lRpS2Gc

— Sarah MacDonald (@MacDonald_Sarah) August 29, 2015

#NOW: This is right behind the #Vancouver @ParkBoard office. And the #wind is getting MUCH stronger by the minute… pic.twitter.com/APZtwVwBVZ — Jason Lamarche (@Lamarche) August 29, 2015

 

It’s #Windcouver currently. #Vancouver — @Yushimi (@3rdHeart) August 29, 2015

Wind rips largest flag in the country! Iconic flag in #SurreyBC (former Expo 86) photo via @GMMusic #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/zTTdO8rG7V — Bruce Claggett (@BruceClaggett) August 29, 2015

The carnage near my house in #NorthVancouver. #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/hZFnd7EKbS

— Farhan Mohamed (@farhanmohamed) August 29, 2015

@farhanmohamed Scary moment in #eastvan after leaving PNE Could smell gas too. pic.twitter.com/lyC783pPFM — paul mon-kau (@PaulMonKau) August 29, 2015

Window blinds are breaking off and blowing away in this #windstorm #vancouver #yaletown #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/kG5HA5ko7s — Braden McMillan (@BradenMcMill) August 29, 2015

3 trees down in my block #windstorm #vancouver pic.twitter.com/N2cWwWbagr — Jorge Cardenas (@libliothecary) August 29, 2015

The #wind is wild and there’s now a #poweroutage in #mountpleasant. #Vancouver #yvr — Sarah Sheridan (@sarahmsheridan) August 29, 2015

Tree down in #northvancouver ripped out water main and driveway, crashed through neighbour’s roof. #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/mcaWkjt6aV — Jill Slattery (@JillSlattery) August 29, 2015

Powers out in my west end apartment. Any one else experiencing power failure? #vancouver #tharsheblows #BCstorm — Aini Bhatti (@Aininian) August 29, 2015

Should probably just stay inside today. #Vancouver #GVA pic.twitter.com/aQ71XTb1pV — Ed Toivanen (@edtoivanen) August 29, 2015

Lots of trees and tree limbs down on my ride back from @DEVO_cycling practice. #vancouver #Vancouverstorm pic.twitter.com/yxlqVzJxl2 — erichharvey (@erichharvey) August 29, 2015

Trees down in #Surrey, traffic lights out, thanks to wind storm. pic.twitter.com/HzHQKtflKs — Janet Brown (@JanetBrown980) August 29, 2015

#Windstorm in #Coquitlam causing significant damage. Austin Avenue closed at Gatensbury. pic.twitter.com/uevtFqkgiG — Richard Stewart (@MayorStewart) August 29, 2015

The carnage in my backyard. #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/FGXxXse9B7 — Bhupinder S. Hundal (@BhupinderHundal) August 29, 2015

Big tree limb split out in strong #winds in #Vancouver leaning precariously on building #news #vannews #weather pic.twitter.com/bUMU1QrRw3 — Joel Spooner (@JoeliPhoto) August 29, 2015

#Vancouver residents should avoid the UBC Endowment Lands. Lots of fallen trees. Saw one couple nearly have a small tree land on them — Nick Wells (@nickwellsy) August 29, 2015

And there goes my power… #blackout #poweroutage #stormcouver #vancouver — Bradley Wou (@bradleywou) August 29, 2015

@NEWS1130Traffic @NEWS1130 coquitlam near ikea pic.twitter.com/gSLgpZ6Oyk — Vancouver Canuck! (@VancityGreek) August 29, 2015

Power out in #NewWest due to wind storm. Lots of debris on the ground. This tree took out a fence. @GlobalBC @BC1 pic.twitter.com/0bSTAph4aL — Brooke Rollinson (@Brookeashlie) August 29, 2015

Don’t take #hwy1 EB – traffic has stopped just past where I took this video. Lots of debris on road @GlobalBC @BC1 pic.twitter.com/lxBYcToAA8 — Brooke Rollinson (@Brookeashlie) August 29, 2015

More trees down near Mt Pleasant. This one fell on parked cars. pic.twitter.com/hUeHuNGsFM — CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) August 29, 2015

Giant tree fell down on Nelson between Hornby and Howe @VancityBuzz @VancouverSun @cbcnewsbc @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/ZsNW9yU28K — Ashley Tompkins (@ashleyytompkins) August 29, 2015

@BitsofBee @VancityBuzz Just saw this! pic.twitter.com/Yhz11tKCAR — Jamie Dunlop Khau (@JamieKhau) August 29, 2015

Skytrain service suspended Royal Oak, Edmonds, 22nd street due to high winds knocking tree across tracks . @CKNW — Shelby Thom (@ShelbyThom980) August 29, 2015

People narrowly escape being hit by falling trees at Mary Hill Bypass. DO NOT stop to clear road. @GlobalBC pic.twitter.com/pjTG17bopE — Jeremy Hunka (@JeremyHunka) August 29, 2015

#StanleyPark is now shut down due to strong winds. Watch @CTVVancouver at 6pm for coverage of this weather wallop. pic.twitter.com/Nd08KCEJQ7 — Julie Nolin (@JulieNolinCTV) August 29, 2015

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@NEWS1130 you can add grandview blocked at Fraser to your list. pic.twitter.com/j6k9WwNwRN — Rick Unrau (@RickUnrau1) August 29, 2015

Tress knocked down in #StanleyPark @CKNW pic.twitter.com/Un4v8REbqw — Shelby Thom (@ShelbyThom980) August 29, 2015

Tree and power line down on 11th and commercial @bchydro @CityofVancouver @NEWS1130 @NEWS1130Traffic pic.twitter.com/xJUrNsmN9w — Sandy Snady (@sandeeeee0) August 29, 2015

@NEWS1130 Tree fallen West18th Ave West between Willow and Heather. Pedestrians also keep safe!chestnuts everywhere. pic.twitter.com/12mcT0uzl2 — Julia Duncan (@Juliadee_sisu) August 29, 2015

 

Trees 1 Cars 0 @VancityBuzz @nlamontagne pic.twitter.com/EMo8TuH0O7 — Andy Yan (@Ayan604) August 29, 2015

Trees keep falling! Bike path this time #Lakewood @VancityBuzz @CityofVancouver at Kitchener & Lakewood pic.twitter.com/gslQPVJEh5 — Fabien Dehors (@fdehors) August 29, 2015

@NEWS1130 this one tree took out took out three homes fences/yards and is blocking 74A in Delta! pic.twitter.com/D5EfkB3TBj — Sim C (@SiC84) August 29, 2015

@WoodfordCKNW980 @CKNW Hastings street by@gilmore closed my friend sent me this to tweet it pic.twitter.com/gHEE8AkPQc — Ufcvancouverbctrevor (@Ufcvancouverbc) August 29, 2015

Serious #wind damage in Mt. Pleasant cc: @VancityBuzz @CTVNews @globalnews  @24hoursvan @MetroVancouver pic.twitter.com/JqJeryFxsc — Ulara Nakagawa (@UlaraNakagawa) August 29, 2015

@VancityBuzz #Vancouver #storm @ScanBC @BigAlDiesel #wtf #nopenetration I hated that tree anyway #jk pic.twitter.com/Ulg2cy90c5 — Lou Twister (@Stu_Lyster) August 29, 2015

WOW! It just snapped off, what a windstorm pic.twitter.com/B2ANc4kHwS — Mike Farnworth (@mikefarnworthbc) August 29, 2015

@VancityBuzz @VanObserver Large tree crashed down over playground at Keswick Park in Burnaby. pic.twitter.com/04meHkcCwG — Mark Klotz (@MarkKlotz) August 29, 2015

@VancityBuzz @VanObserver Large tree crashed down over playground at Keswick Park in Burnaby. pic.twitter.com/BuKxyOKl4L — Mark Klotz (@MarkKlotz) August 29, 2015

Windy conditions. Watching for falling trees! (Blanca & 13th) @CityofVancouver@VancityBuzz#BCstormpic.twitter.com/McpNBIJ0qL — Andrew Johns (@AndrewNJohns) August 29, 2015

it’s wild out there today #vancouver … and this #boat can testify to just how strong that #wind is!! @VancityBuzz pic.twitter.com/Jl9LWjQHph — Michael C (@mwmcarroll) August 29, 2015

Aerial shot from tree down at Nelson and Howe earlier. Almost cleared now! @NEWS1130 @VancityBuzz #BCstorm #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/mOCXKgRb8n — Fawns & Fellows (@fawnsandfellows) August 29, 2015

@w_e_r_d_: Blown manhole cover and flood at Esplanade & Lonsdale #northvancouver @CityOfNorthVan Drive with caution! pic.twitter.com/myEBZcBRvK

— DREW (@w_e_r_d_) August 30, 2015