Sunday November 17, 2024: At its peak, more than 5,300 customers in the North Okanagan were without power following a series of outages that began around 4 p.m. on November 16.
At least two incidents of snow laden trees causing fires on BC Hydro powerlines are known. One in Coldstream near Kalamalka and Howe, another in Vernon near Silverstar and Barker roads.
The hardest-hit areas included Coldstream and Vernon, where approximately 3,000 customers were affected by downed trees across power lines.
Another 2,250 customers lost electricity due to unspecified issues in neighboring areas.
Communities across the region, stretching from Cherryville in the east to Predator Ridge in the south and as far north as Enderby, experienced outages of varying severity.
In Lumby, 86 customers remained without power for several hours, while parts of Silverton also reported disruptions. Some smaller outages, affecting fewer than five customers each, were noted in Coldstream and surrounding neighborhoods.
BC Hydro crews worked through the night, restoring power to many customers by early morning on November 17. However, some areas, particularly those with more complex repairs, were still awaiting full restoration as of the latest update.
The outages were primarily caused by fallen trees, likely due to heavy snowfall and weather-related conditions. Residents are reminded to stay clear of downed power lines and report any hazards to BC Hydro.
Peak Impact
At its peak, approximately 5,242 customers were without power, with significant outages recorded in the following areas:
Coldstream and Vernon:
North of Cosens Bay Road, south of Pottery Road, east of Mission Road, and west of Buchanan Road, affecting 2,992 customers.
South of Pottery Road, east of Highway 97, west of Highway 6, and north of Kalamalka Road, impacting 2,250 customers.
Snow Causes Power Outages Across the North Okanagan
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