Extremely rare late-season tornado hits north of Vancouver, B.C.
A wicked windstorm swept through southern British Columbia on Monday, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and even washing a number of boats ashore.
Members of Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) have now also confirmed a weak late-season tornado was connected to the stormy conditions that day, something you don't often hear of happening in B.C.
The twister was reported at 10:50 a.m. near Sechelt, a small community located on the lower Sunshine Coast northwest of Vancouver.
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"The tornado felled trees along a short path, falling on power lines and briefly blocking roads including the Sunshine Coast Highway," the NTP said.
Monday's tornado was rated an EF0, with an estimated maximum wind speed of 115 km/h.
No injuries were reported, but residents in the area say it was a frightening sight with the trees crashing down like dominoes around them. Some drivers were left stranded due to fallen and blocked debris.
Dashcam vid of the confirmed EF-0 #tornado on #BC’s #SunshineCoast nr #Sechelt, NW of Vancouver🌪️
It occ’d on Mon 4 Nov at ~10:50a as a convective line pushed SE
Last tornado on the #BCcoast occurring at UBC, Nov 2021
H/T 📸: Lynn Smith#BCwx #BCStorm #BCStormWatch #BCTornado pic.twitter.com/rtXwVXQzA4— Ryan Voutilainen 🇨🇦🇫🇮 (@RyanVoutilainen) November 6, 2024
According to NTP, there are only two other November tornadoes on record in B.C. since 1980, both in the far southwestern part of the province, and both occurring after this one on November 4.
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At the height of Monday's storm, around 300,000 customers lost power, with BC Hydro crews completing final repairs in West Vancouver and Sechelt on Wednesday afternoon. All power was expected to be restored by Wednesday evening.
Thumbnail image courtesy: BC Hydro/X