B.C. Ferries has cancelled numerous Christmas Day and Boxing Day sailings between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland because of . On Christmas Day, early morning trips departed, but sailings on the major routes were cancelled for the rest of the day. There had been hope that the Christmas Day evenings sailings would go ahead, but they were cancelled in the late afternoon.
For Thursday, Dec. 26, B.C. Ferries has cancelled the first two morning departures on the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route and the first three on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route.
The cancellations include:
• Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, Dec. 25 departures for the rest of the day; Dec. 26 departures between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay, Dec. 25 departures for the rest of the day; Dec 26 morning departures are listed as going ahead.
• Tsawwassen and Duke Point, Dec. 25 departures for the rest of the day; Dec. 26 departures between 5:15 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.
B.C. Ferries said it is cancelling the sailings “to ensure the safety of our customers and crew.”
Dec. 25 departures up to 9 a.m. went ahead, including:
• 9 a.m. departing from Tsawwassen
• 9 a.m. departing from Swartz Bay
• 8:25 a.m. departing from Horseshoe Bay
• 8:25 a.m. departing from Departure Bay
Check for schedule updates.
The windstorm hit much of Vancouver Island on Christmas Day morning and could last until midday on Boxing Day.
The affected areas include Greater Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands, East Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast, and western sections of Metro Vancouver, Environment Canada said.
On Dec. 25, southeast winds of up to 80 km/h, gusting to 100 km/h are possible for Greater Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands, and Courtenay to Campbell River, Environment Canada said.
Strong west winds are expected on Boxing Day morning.
"At high tide on Boxing Day morning, strong winds from the west will give elevated water levels near Juan de Fuca Strait, especially near Victoria Harbour," the weather agency said. Minor coastal flooding is possible along shorelines. "Large waves due to gale-force southwest winds, storm surge and seasonably high tides have the potential to produce high water levels on Thursday morning."
For Greater Victoria, the wind should ease to southwest 20 km/h by 6 p.m. on Boxing Day, Environment Canada said. Rain is expected for much of the day.
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