VANCOUVER — BC Hydro crews across Vancouver Island and British Columbia's south coast are working hard to restore power to thousands of customers following the region's first autumn wind storm.
Gusts of nearly 90 kilometres per hour were recorded during the height of the storm.
It hit Thursday evening, knocking out electricity to more than 34,000 customers, with hardest hit areas including Greater Victoria, Greater Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast.
By daylight Friday, about 13,000 customers were still in the dark.
Hydro warned it could be most of the day before all the lights are back on.
Wind warnings issued by Environment Canada overnight were dropped within hours, but gusty winds were still buffeting the region in advance of another round of heavy rain due Friday night.