High winds prompts BC Ferries to cancel Vancouver and Vancouver Island sailings

The exterior of BC Ferries' Spirit of British Columbia. (Marcin Chady / Flickr)

The walloping winds swirling around BC’s South Coast have prompted the cancellation of several ferries.

BC Ferries announced that high winds forced them to cancel the 11 am sailing on the Spirit of British Columbia from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, as well as the 1 pm journey from Swartz Bay back to the Mainland.

The company said that it doesn’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly — and it will resume service “as safe as it is to do so.”

“The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us,” a message on its website reads.

#ServiceNotice #Tsawwassen – #SwartzBay #SpiritofBritishColumbia cancelled sailings today 11:00am ex. Tsawwassen & 1:00pm ex. Swartz Bay due to adverse weather conditions: https://t.co/aCWEixwCV8 ^hy

— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) December 11, 2018

Besides the main Vancouver to Victoria route, several smaller vessels were also forced to cancel their sailings. Those include:

Sailings between Comox and Powell River
Sailings between Powell River and Texada Island

BC Ferries is advising passengers and people using ferries Tuesday to check its website for any sailing delays and cancellations.

A wind warning is in effect for all of Metro Vancouver, including Surrey, Langley, Richmond and Delta.

Strong winds anywhere from 60 to 80 km/h — and that are capable of causing damage — are expected.

Environment Canada has also issued a rainfall warning for most of Metro Vancouver as the entire area is drenched in a late fall storm.

The agency warned that adverse weather conditions could be expected in:

Metro Vancouver – northeast including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge
North Shore – including West Vancouver and North Vancouver

The effects of the rainfall made themselves present by Tuesday afternoon, as pictures flooded social media of cars up to their headlights in water.

Update: BC Ferries has announced that Spirit of BC, running from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, is running 54 minutes behind schedule due to congestion.

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