BC Hydro crews restore power across Metro Vancouver after second storm knocks out 135,000 customers
A second major storm hit Metro Vancouver overnight Saturday, leaving 63,000 customers without power as of Sunday morning. BC Hydro warns more storms are coming this week.
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A second major storm hit Metro Vancouver overnight Saturday, cutting power to 135,000 customers at its peak around 1 a.m. Sunday. As of 7 a.m. Sunday, BC Hydro reported 63,000 customers across the region were still without electricity.
BC Hydro says the two storms since Friday produced more than 380,000 customer outages combined across the province. By Sunday morning, about 317,000 customers had power restored.
What happened
Strong winds downed trees, branches, poles, and electrical equipment across the Lower Mainland and other parts of BC's south coast. Surrey, Duncan, Port Hardy, and Prince George were among the areas that saw the most damage.
BC Hydro spokesperson Whitney Deane said in a press release Sunday morning: "Our crews are making good progress, but with strong winds continuing this morning, we expect to see additional damage and outages before conditions improve."
The outage was the second in a series of storms. The first hit Friday night. BC Hydro says more storms are forecast for later this week.
Safety rules around downed lines
BC Hydro says any resident who sees a downed, damaged, or low-hanging power line should stay at least 10 metres away from it and call 911. Deane said crews are working around the clock but that wind conditions Sunday morning were still creating new damage.
Do not drive over a downed line, and do not touch any object in contact with one.
How to check your area
Residents can see which areas still have active outages and estimated restoration times through BC Hydro's outage map and list at bchydro.com/outages or through the BC Hydro mobile app. To report an outage, call 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376).
More storms ahead
BC Hydro says this week will bring additional storms to BC's south coast. The utility advises residents to keep a stocked 72-hour emergency kit (water, food, and a flashlight) and to charge mobile devices now, while power is on.
Residents can check Environment Canada's warnings and forecast for Metro Vancouver at weather.gc.ca for the latest on what is expected this week.
Questions this story answers
How many customers lost power in Metro Vancouver during the storm on November 7-8, 2026?
BC Hydro says 135,000 customers were without power at the peak of the storm, around 1 a.m. Sunday, November 8. That was for the second storm in the series. Combined with the first storm, total outages since Friday reached more than 380,000 customer outages across BC. The Lower Mainland was among the areas affected, along with Surrey, Duncan, Port Hardy, and Prince George.
How many customers were still without power on Sunday morning?
BC Hydro reported 63,000 customers without power as of 7 a.m. Sunday, November 8. About 317,000 customers had power restored by that point. BC Hydro says conditions were expected to improve later Sunday but that additional damage was possible before winds fully subsided.
What caused the power outages in Metro Vancouver?
BC Hydro says strong winds downed trees, branches, poles, and electrical equipment across the region. This was the second in a series of storms expected to hit BC's south coast. The first storm hit Friday night, and BC Hydro says more storms are forecast for the coming week.
What should Vancouver residents do if they see a downed power line?
BC Hydro says to stay at least 10 metres away from any downed, damaged, or low-hanging power lines and to call 911 to report them. Residents should not approach or touch a downed line under any circumstances. BC Hydro spokesperson Whitney Deane said crews are making progress but that strong winds were continuing Sunday morning and additional damage was expected.
What is BC Hydro's safety advice for the storms expected this week?
BC Hydro advises residents to maintain a stocked 72-hour emergency kit and to keep mobile devices charged, because additional storms are expected this week. Residents can check current outage information through the BC Hydro mobile app or at bchydro.com/outages. Report downed lines by calling 911 or 1-800-BCHYDRO.
How can Vancouver residents check if their area has an active outage?
BC Hydro's outage map and list are available at bchydro.com/outages and through the BC Hydro mobile app. These tools show current outages and estimated restoration times by area. Residents can also call 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376) to report an outage or check status.
Was this the same storm as the atmospheric river that hit Vancouver on November 6?
BC Hydro says this was a second storm in a series. The first hit Friday night, November 6-7. The second struck overnight Saturday into Sunday, November 7-8, and was responsible for the 135,000-customer peak outage at 1 a.m. Sunday. BC Hydro says more storms are expected to hit BC's south coast later this week.
Who is the BC Hydro spokesperson quoted in the November 8 press release?
Whitney Deane is the BC Hydro spokesperson quoted in the November 8 press release. Deane said: 'Our crews are making good progress, but with strong winds continuing this morning, we expect to see additional damage and outages before conditions improve.' Deane also advised residents to stay 10 metres from downed power lines and to call 911 to report them.
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