A significant wind storm is expected to arrive in southern B.C. this afternoon, Nov. 19, bringing wind speeds of 90 km/h to the Salish Sea and gusts of up to 70 km/h to much of Metro Vancouver.
And it's going to be a long one.
The high winds are expected to last 18 to 24 hours starting Tuesday night (Nov. 19) according to Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor, much longer than the typical wind storm in Vancouver.
"Right now its probable centre is 400 to 500 km west of the mouth of the Columbia River," he tells V.I.A.
"It's tracking northwards."
Once it arrives, the west coast of Vancouver Island will be hit first and hardest, especially Tofino, according to Proctor.
Closer to Vancouver, the open waters of the Georgia Strait, Salish Sea and Howe Sound will experience the highest wind speeds of 90 km/h. Metro Vancouver will see gusts of 70 km/h, even in inland areas, starting tonight and lasting through most of Wednesday.
The high winds will likely cause power outages; in light of that, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is reminding people how to deal with intersections where traffic lights have gone out.
There’s a storm with high winds headed our way this evening, and power outages are expected. For anyone needing a refresher on what to do if the traffic lights stop working, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has got you covered: https://t.co/nAROML1g9T
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) November 19, 2024
Image… pic.twitter.com/HgAljKyjjh
The Province of B.C. has shared links for people who want to prepare for the storm, and BC Ferries has already begun to cancel sailings.
The City of Vancouver has additional shelter spaces for tonight, as well.
An unusual storm
It's an unusual storm, the meteorologist notes, as it's coming to the Lower Mainland from the south. Due to its path, the stormiest weather will last longer in Vancouver than typical wind storms.
"It's going to be a long-duration wind event," says Proctor. "We're looking at something that's going to be 18 to 24 hours in duration of the strongest winds."
At the same time, it's intensifying quickly. In a process called "bombogenesis," the pressure in the storm has dropped dramatically, causing wind speeds to quicken. In this case, it's due to a cold air mass that also caused the hail and lightning over Metro Vancouver this weekend.
"The cold air is what's providing a lot of the energy for the storm," says Proctor.
That means wind speeds will peak at around 120 km/h over the surface of the ocean west of B.C. Luckily for Vancouver, the city won't get hit by the top-speed gusts.
"We're somewhat fortunate that it's further to the west; it would be a horrible day to be out at sea on the west side of Vancouver Island," says Proctor.
Southern B.C. hasn't experienced a bomb cyclone since 2021 when two hit over the stormy fall. While the 2021 atmospheric river event followed, Proctor says the different weather events were unrelated, and there's no reason to believe a similar atmospheric river is in the forecast.
He notes that these types of storms are often part of a La Niña weather cycle, which is developing now.
"This is the time of year we tend to see these explosive storms," he adds.
The peak of the storm should leave the area late on Wednesday, and things will be unstable but less dramatic for a couple of days. A more typical November storm is due in Metro Vancouver on Nov. 22, coming down the coast from the north as they normally do. Heavier than usual rain and wind are expected.
"There'll be decent winds but won't be a bomb cyclone," says Proctor.
