‘Bomb cyclone’ threatens the BC coast with severe winds, power outages

Windy conditions this week are likely to result in power outages and ferry cancellations on Vancouver Island and along the BC coast.

A significant fall storm, which the Weather Network is calling a potential “bomb cyclone”, is set to impact Vancouver Island beginning on Tuesday.

An area of low pressure will deepen rapidly some 400 kms west of Vancouver Island. This low is forecast to then curl northwards on Wednesday, remaining offshore through the period.

According to Environment Canada, peak winds are expected to occur on Tuesday night, with the storm lasting late into Wednesday.

The Weather Network says wind speeds at the peak of the storm are expected to be between 90 to 100 km/h on parts of the Island, and between 50 to 70 km/h for the Lower Mainland.

Matt MacDonald, the lead forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service, says models predict that BC coastal inlets could see "hurricane force" winds of more than 118 km/h and create waves up to nine metres off Washington and Oregon.

Places like Tofino and Western Vancouver Island could see over 100 mm of rainfall on Wednesday, and 30 to 40 mm for other locations along the South Coast. Storm surge flooding is a possibility for some areas.

The Weather Network explains that the incoming low pressure system could qualify as a bomb cyclone, and has similarities to the record breaking storm that hit the Pacific Northwest in October 2021.

“​​A bomb cyclone is different from other storms because the dynamics within a rapidly intensifying storm can create ripping winds and extreme precipitation rates,” the Weather Network says.

However, the forecaster says this storm will remain offshore, sparing the Island from the worst of it.

-With files from The Canadian Press