More than 1,500 BC Hydro customers from Sechelt to Earls Cove were knocked off the grid as a storm system bringing strong winds moved down the coast Tuesday morning.
As of 1 p.m. crews were still working to restore power.
Environment Canada issued a weather warning Nov. 16 as a strong Pacific low-pressure system approached the south coast.
Winds were predicted to hit up to 80 km/h on the Sunshine Coast and in excess of 90 km/h in the Howe Sound area.
The weather agency said the winds could be strong enough to “toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break” and Capilano Highways warned people to drive to the conditions and watch for debris on the roads.
Gusts of 50 km/h were recorded in Sechelt Tuesday morning and at the weather station at Pam Rocks in Howe Sound there were sustained winds of around 60 km/h with gusts at times hitting 100 km/h.
BC Ferries cancelled sailings to and from Vancouver Island out of the Horseshoe Bay, Powell River and Tsawwassen terminals, but service between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay was not impacted.
The winds were expected to begin easing off early Tuesday afternoon as the low moved inland and weakened.
