Storm rips through Okanagan and Shuswap
Violent winds and heavy rains battered parts of the Okanagan and Shuswap today.
The storm came today, Oct. 17, just as Environment Canada predicted it in a special weather statement issued that morning.
The dramatic storm knocked out power to thousands across the Central and North Okanagan, as well as the Shuswap region.
According to B.C. Hydro, large outages are affecting people in Armstrong, Coldstream, Vernon, Lake Country, Peachland and West Kelowna.
A notice on B.C. Hydro’s website states that outages are expected to increase until the winds abate.
“Crews have been dispatched to all areas to restore power quickly and safely. Exact restoration times will not be available until full damage assessments are complete,” B.C. Hydro says.
For the very latest on power outages go to the B.C. Hydro website here.
The wind also brought trees and branches down across the region. In Vernon, tree branches were knocked onto 27 Street, outside the Vernon Courthouse.
Holy wind! My little Smart Car almost blew off the road this morning! #okanagan #vernonbc BE safe out there. Thankfully it's a warm wind.
— KeliWestgate (@KeliWestgate) October 17, 2017
#bcstorm. Shuswap Lake pic.twitter.com/eWTUouou5B
— Bonnie Zimmer (@BonnieZ1971) October 17, 2017
Sky condition looking north from Glenmore Rd #Kelowna #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/pVUAHZR6LH
— ruth bleuer (@chamboard) October 17, 2017
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