B.C. Hydro is warning the province’s South Coast residents to be prepared for power outages as a winter storm is set to bring snow, freezing rain and heavy rain to the region Friday through to Monday.
Spokesperson Susie Rieder says all of the utility's crews will be working or on standby over the weekend and that the power company expects to employ contractors to fix downed power lines as well.
Most parts of the South Coast are already blanketed with over 20 centimetres of snow. Another 10 to 15 centimetres is expected starting midnight Friday through to Saturday morning. The snow will turn to freezing rain in many areas, and forecasts have noted parts of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island would see the worst of it.
At cold temperatures, rain can stick and freeze to the existing snow on trees, causing a significant risk for them to break and fall on power lines, said Rieder.
“There’s a significant chance we’re going to see very significant outages because of the freezing rain,” said Rieder.
A downed power line can take up to eight hours to fix, but Rieder said BC Hydro is also worried about accessing sites, as the snow and freezing rain is expected to ice roads, causing closures and delays.
The incoming storm is a reminder for people to have emergency supplies on hand: water, flashlight, batteries (pre-charged cellphones), and non-perishable goods to last at least 72 hours, notes the utility.
BC Hydro also reminds people to stay 10 metres away from a downed power line and if crews are not on the scene, to call 9-1-1.
“In the event of a motor vehicle accident involving electrical equipment, if it is determined safe, drivers should drive out from under the power line and away from the source of electricity. Drivers should travel at least 10 meters — the length of a bus — before stopping,” noted BC Hydro in a statement.
BC Hydro’s meteorological team says holiday storms have been more frequent and severe in the past five years and have seen a 500 per cent increase in power outages in December. The company attributes the trend to climate change, said Rieder.
As a result of the increased disruptions Rieder says the company is trimming more trees in the spring and summer months to guard against future conflicts between lines and branches.
Rieder said BC Hydro has more trees per kilometre of power line than any other jurisdiction in North America.
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