Storm forces BC Ferries cancellations and power outages across British Columbia
A series of storms is hitting BC's coast on November 6, 2026, cancelling BC Ferries sailings on major routes, cutting power to thousands of customers and triggering evacuation and wave hazard alerts.
Long read. The subject the most local outlets covered that day, with the public record behind it. Every outlet and record is linked under the story. Read the original report on globalnews.ca.
A powerful storm system hit British Columbia's coast on November 6, 2026, cancelling BC Ferries sailings on several major routes and leaving thousands of BC Hydro customers without power. Environment Canada says this is the first in a series of storms expected to bring heavy rain and wind to the province through next week.
What is happening with BC Ferries
BC Ferries has cancelled multiple sailings due to high winds and rough conditions in the Strait of Georgia. The affected routes include:
- Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay: four morning sailings cancelled
- Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay: six sailings cancelled in the morning, with additional afternoon and evening sailings also cancelled
- Tsawwassen to Southern Gulf Islands: sailings cancelled through early afternoon
- Tsawwassen to Duke Point: multiple sailings affected
- Little River to Westview, Buckley Bay to Denman Island, Campbell River to Quadra Island, and several other coastal routes also affected
BC Ferries says customers with a booking on a cancelled sailing will be contacted by its Customer Service Centre to arrange a later sailing or receive a refund of fares and fees. Customers are advised to check the BC Ferries website for current cancellation information before heading to any terminal.
The cancellations come as Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a wind warning for parts of Metro Vancouver, with gusts reaching up to 70 kilometres per hour by Friday afternoon. On the Coquihalla Highway and the Okanagan Connector, gusts are forecast between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour. As a cold front pushes through, gusts could reach 90 kilometres per hour in some BC Interior mountain passes.
Rainfall and river levels
Environment Canada issued a yellow-level rainfall warning on November 6 for parts of Metro Vancouver. Higher-elevation areas of the North Shore and southern Howe Sound can receive up to 80 millimetres. The North Shore and Coquitlam area can expect up to 50 millimetres. The heaviest rain is expected through Friday, with conditions easing overnight.
The BC River Forecast Centre issued a High Streamflow Advisory for BC's South Coast, Central Coast, and several areas on Vancouver Island. River levels are rising or expected to rise quickly, with the highest flows on Friday, possibly causing localized flooding in low-lying areas. The advisory is not a flood warning: major flooding is not expected at this time.
Power outages
Global News BC reported on November 6 that thousands of BC Hydro customers are without power. The hardest-hit areas are the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast, northern Vancouver Island, and parts of southern Vancouver Island.
BC Hydro warned before the storm that the summer's wildfire season has made the province more vulnerable to outages. In a report titled The new reality: Emergency season is year-round, the utility said drought, prolonged heat and wildfire damage have weakened trees and root systems. Those weakened trees may stand through the fire season but fall when the first major windstorm arrives.
BC Hydro crews replaced 1,265 power poles and 110 transformers during the 2026 wildfire season. The utility has tripled its annual spending on vegetation management to about $150 million, to identify and remove hazardous trees near power lines.
Customers can track outages through the BC Hydro mobile app or at bchydro.com/outages. Anyone who sees a downed or damaged power line should stay at least 10 metres away and call 911.
Evacuation alert in Zeballos
The Village of Zeballos, on northern Vancouver Island, issued an evacuation alert on November 6 for some properties on Ferris Road, Pandora Crescent and Maquinna Avenue due to the risk of a landslide. Residents in the affected areas should be ready to leave immediately if ordered to do so. An evacuation alert means a hazard has been identified but conditions have not yet reached the level that requires departure right now.
Wave hazard at Pacific Rim National Park
Parks Canada issued an extreme wave hazard advisory for beaches, shorelines and coastal waters in and around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, in effect from November 6 to 8. Wave heights are expected to reach up to 7 metres on Friday and up to 8 metres on Saturday and into Sunday. Parks Canada says beaches can go from completely dry to several feet underwater in seconds. Anyone planning to visit the reserve should stay off beaches and away from shorelines through the weekend.
More storms to come
Global News BC meteorologist Mark Madryga said Friday's storm is the first in a series. A second storm is set to arrive Saturday night, and another wet stretch returns Monday night through the remainder of the week. Total forecast rainfall for the next week ranges from 250 to 600 millimetres on west Vancouver Island and from 100 to 300 millimetres in the Lower Mainland, depending on the weather model.
If you are travelling to or from Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands by ferry, check the BC Ferries website before leaving home. If you are in an area under an evacuation alert, keep emergency supplies ready and monitor alerts from your local authority.
Questions this story answers
Which BC Ferries routes are cancelled on November 6, 2026?
BC Ferries has cancelled multiple sailings on the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route and the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route, as well as sailings to the Southern Gulf Islands and Duke Point. Additional afternoon and evening sailings are also affected. BC Ferries says customers with cancelled bookings will be contacted to reschedule or receive a refund. Check the BC Ferries website for the most current list of cancellations.
How much rain is expected in Metro Vancouver on November 6?
Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning on November 6 for parts of Metro Vancouver. Up to 80 millimetres of rain is expected in higher-elevation areas of the North Shore and near southern Howe Sound. The North Shore and Coquitlam area can expect up to 50 millimetres. The heaviest rain is forecast to continue throughout Friday, with conditions easing overnight.
How strong are the winds in Metro Vancouver and BC Interior on November 6?
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for parts of Metro Vancouver, with sustained winds bringing gusts up to 70 kilometres per hour into the afternoon. On the Coquihalla Highway and the Okanagan Connector, gusts are forecast between 60 and 80 kilometres per hour. As the cold front moves through, gusts could reach 90 kilometres per hour in BC Interior passes. Winds are expected to ease overnight.
Where has BC Hydro cut power and how many customers are affected?
Global News BC reported on November 6 that thousands of BC Hydro customers are without power. The hardest-hit areas include the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast, northern Vancouver Island, and parts of southern Vancouver Island. BC Hydro said customers can track outages through its mobile app or at bchydro.com/outages. Residents are advised to stay at least 10 metres away from downed or damaged power lines and call 911 to report them.
What is the wave hazard at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve?
Parks Canada issued an extreme wave hazard advisory for beaches, shorelines and coastal waters in and around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve from November 6 to 8. Wave heights are expected to reach up to 7 metres on Friday and up to 8 metres on Saturday and into Sunday. Parks Canada warns that beaches can go from completely dry to several feet underwater in seconds. People should stay off beaches and shorelines in the affected area.
What is the Zeballos evacuation alert about?
The Village of Zeballos, on northern Vancouver Island, issued an evacuation alert on November 6 for some properties on Ferris Road, Pandora Crescent and Maquinna Avenue due to the risk of a landslide. Residents in those areas should be ready to leave at a moment's notice. An evacuation alert means a hazard has been identified but conditions have not yet reached a level that requires immediate departure.
What is the river flooding risk on November 6?
The BC River Forecast Centre issued a High Streamflow Advisory for BC's South Coast, Central Coast, and several areas on Vancouver Island as the storm arrives. The advisory says river levels are rising or expected to rise quickly, with the highest flows expected on Friday, potentially causing localized flooding. Major flooding is not expected at this time.
How long will the storms last in BC?
Global News BC meteorologist Mark Madryga said November 6 is the first storm in a series. A second storm is set to move in later on Saturday night, and another wet stretch returns on Monday night through the remainder of the week. The forecast calls for total rainfall of 250 to 600 millimetres on west Vancouver Island and 100 to 300 millimetres in the Lower Mainland over the next week.
How has the summer wildfire season made power outages worse?
BC Hydro published a report called The new reality: Emergency season is year-round, warning that drought, prolonged heat and wildfire damage from the summer have weakened trees and root systems. Those trees may not fall until the first major windstorm arrives. BC Hydro crews replaced 1,265 power poles and 110 transformers during the 2026 wildfire season. The utility has tripled its annual vegetation-management spending to $150 million to identify and remove hazardous trees near power lines.
What should BC residents do to prepare for the storms?
BC Hydro advises maintaining a 72-hour emergency kit and having a household emergency plan in place. Residents should stay away from downed power lines. BC Ferries customers should check the BC Ferries website before heading to the terminal. People in the Zeballos areas under evacuation alert should be ready to leave immediately. Those planning to visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve beaches should stay away from the shoreline through Sunday.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Global News BC — storm report, November 6, 2026globalnews.ca
- Daily Hive — BC Ferries cancellations and wind warning, November 6, 2026dailyhive.com
- CityNews Vancouver — storm and BC Ferries, November 6, 2026vancouver.citynews.ca
- 102.9 Rewind Radio — BC Hydro outage risk warning, November 6, 20261029rewindradio.ca
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