Overnight, lightning illuminated the skies of B.C.’s South Coast as a significant thunderstorm swept through the area, causing traffic disruptions at Vancouver International Airport and leading to flight complications.
“This system was quite impressive, with hundreds of strikes from cloud to ground … primarily affecting Vancouver and Richmond,” stated CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.
Wagstaffe explained that a low-pressure system moved ashore near Richmond after originating from the equator, bringing with it a substantial amount of moisture.
According to an initial report from Environment Canada, over 1,800 lightning strikes were recorded across the Lower Mainland between Saturday night and Sunday morning, while the B.C. Wildfire Service noted more than 7,000 strikes throughout the province.
B.C. Hydro reported multiple power outages overnight. By Sunday morning, over 3,800 residents in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast areas were without electricity.
Ian Crook captured this moment of lightning striking over Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver on Saturday night. (Ian Crook/Submitted)
Vancouver Airport Faces Cancellations and Delays
The storm wreaked havoc at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), leading to numerous delays and cancellations throughout the night from approximately 9 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. PT Sunday.
As a result, many passengers, including Simone McCallum, found themselves stranded in the airport overnight.
Numerous lightning strikes were visible from the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus. (Submitted by Parsa Nourian/@parsanourian5)
McCallum shared that passengers were instructed to return to the check-in area for new boarding passes but were not permitted to go back through security, forcing them to sleep on the ground.
“It was terrible; there was no place to lie down comfortably, and every surface was hard as a rock,” she recounted.
“I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult it would be with children or if someone had a physical disability. It would have been an absolute nightmare.”
Stephen Smart, a spokesperson for YVR, expressed regret to the affected travelers and stated that the airport mobilized additional staff as quickly as possible to manage the situation.
Smart indicated that the storm produced lightning for over five hours and released 64 millimeters of rain at the airport, more than double the total rainfall usually recorded there in August.
Social media videos also seemed to depict flooding in various areas of the airport.
“Typically, we experience storms like this for 20 to 30 minutes, after which operations return to normal. However, last night, our operations were essentially halted,” Smart explained.
“We can land planes during storms like that, but we can’t have staff on the airfield or allow aircraft to take off.”
The airport reported that some flights would continue to be affected on Sunday as it collaborates with airlines to restore normal operations.
YVR’s website displayed numerous delays and cancellations on Sunday, urging travelers to verify their flight status prior to heading to the terminal.
A series of lightning strikes illuminated the skies over B.C.’s South Coast during a rare event Saturday night. Environment Canada documented nearly 2,000 strikes from Saturday night into Sunday morning, as the storm also disrupted Vancouver International Airport’s operations.
Wildfire Crews Prepared
According to B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) information officer Sarah Budd, approximately 2,000 lightning strikes were logged in the Coastal Fire Centre, with an additional 5,000 recorded in the B.C. Interior, particularly in the Kamloops and Cariboo fire centres.
Budd mentioned that lightning had sparked at least 48 wildfires in the last 72 hours, with 60 percent of these already being contained.
“In anticipation of this weather pattern, we had pre-deployed our crews and resources to ensure an efficient initial response to any new fires, knowing this was on the way,” she stated.
Budd noted that the storm also brought a “generous amount of precipitation,” which aided firefighters by reducing fire activity and minimizing the chances of new fires igniting from lightning.
However, she cautioned that the rain wasn’t sufficient to counteract months of drought, and new fires could still emerge from lingering smoldering fuel ignited by lightning.
Thunderstorm Watches Expand Eastward
On Sunday, Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm watches for much of southeastern B.C., covering the Kootenays, Boundary, East Columbia regions, Arrow Lakes, and Yoho Park.
The storm system also prompted a high streamflow advisory for the Central Interior, including the Pemberton area and its upstream watersheds, as well as the Chilcotin River, Bridge River, and Cariboo River.
Lightning and thunder captivated residents of Metro Vancouver on Saturday night, in a region that typically does not experience extensive thunderstorm activity. (Renée Lukacs/CBC)
Environment Canada reported that significant rainfall fell across southern B.C., with Horseshoe Bay receiving an impressive 43.4 millimeters.
Other locations recorded substantial rainfall as well, including 37.4 millimeters at the Coquihalla Summit, 25.4 millimeters in North Cowichan, nearly 23.8 millimeters in Merritt, and 20.6 millimeters in Lillooet.
A travel advisory has been issued for most of Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet due to heavy rains near Pemberton, warning that the road could close with little notice.