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UPDATE: 20,000 without power in the Lower Mainland due to strong winds

Thousands without power as winds reach high speeds in southern B.C.
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More than 35,000 BC Hydro customers have been affected by outages caused by a windstorm rolling through the Thompson-Nicola and North Okanagan-Shuswap regions. (BC Hydro image)

Strong winds caused a number of closures and power outages in the Lower Mainland Friday.

Roughly 20,000 BC Hydro customers were without power as of noon, according to the Crown corporation, with hardest hit areas in Coquitlam, Burnaby and Surrey.

ALSO READ: Wind warning calls for gusts reaching 90 km/h in the Lower Mainland

The Vancouver Park Board closed Stanley Park, cancelling the Halloween Ghost Train for the rest of the day.

BC Ferries issued a travel advisory, cancelling the 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The 10:40 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. sailings between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay were also cancelled.

Environment Canada forecasters called winds of 70 to 80 kilometres per hour with gusts reaching 90 kilometres per hour on Friday across southern B.C. The inclement weather is expected to ease by the evening.

Stay tuned to Black Press Media for any further closures in the region.


@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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