Environment Canada said on Friday that the wind warnings issued for Vancouver Island this week had been changed to special weather advisories.
From Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, Greater Victoria, East Vancouver Island, West Vancouver Island, and North Vancouver Island are forecast to have persistently strong southeast winds.
Winds between 50 and 70 km/h are predicted for Greater Victoria and East Vancouver Island, with more significant winds possible in exposed coastal regions close to the Strait of Georgia.
Starting Friday afternoon, North Vancouver Island will have even greater winds, with gusts reaching 80 to 100 km/h.
According to Environment Canada, the low-pressure system formed offshore caused severe winds.
In a Friday morning update, the weather office stated that “peak winds are forecast tonight.”
In most places, winds will decrease on Saturday morning; in Haida Gwaii, they will do so by Saturday afternoon.
Due to the storm pattern, Environment Canada anticipates significant wind outbreaks on Sunday and Monday.
Residents should be ready for potential power outages and fallen tree branches, the weather service advises, and loose objects and roof shingles may get picked up in the wind.
