by Canadian Press
A strong storm hitting southern British Columbia has cut power to more than 34,000 BC Hydro customers.
BC Hydro says the bulk of the outages, about 16,500, are on the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast, with the remainder scattered around Vancouver island.
Environment Canada had issued wind warnings for region, saying wind gusts were likely to reach 90 kilometres an hour.
BC Hydro said repair crews would be working through the night to restore electricity to affected homes and businesses.
In addition to the wind, Environment Canada said the Vancouver region could expect between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain overnight.
The rainfall prompted officials on the North Shore to warn residents of potential for flooding and asked them to clear drains of fallen leaves and debris.
Rough seas kicked up by the wind forced BC Ferries to cancel and delay a number of sailings, including those between Tsawassen and Duke Point and Comox and Powell River.
The Canadian Press
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