By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Over 2,400 FortisBC customers in Osoyoos were left without power for hours after a severe thunderstorm ripped through the Southern Interior packing extreme wind gusts that took down trees and branches, ripped roofing off and sent patio furniture flying on Wednesday afternoon.
On the west side of Osoyoos 1,915 households were left without power from 2:43 p.m. until just after 8 p.m. after the extreme wind gusts took down a large tree taking the power lines with it as it fell across Hwy. 97 between 100th and 108th Ave. A gas leak also occurred in the same area.
Cars were detoured around the area resulting in some congestion.
Traffic on Hwy. 97 was detoured after a large tree fell across the highway. Don Urquhart photo.
On the east side of Osoyoos some 554 households lost power at 2:42 p.m. and did not see power return until after 9 p.m.
FortisBC “outage map” showing situation as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
Environment Canada had issued a Special Weather Statement on Tuesday warning of late season thunderstorms with the potential for “very strong wind gusts and locally heavy downpours”.
Its original forecast of wind gusts up to 60 km/h was revised to 50 km/h on Wednesday.
The weather agency had also warned of the potential for power outages, damage to buildings, vehicles from falling tree branches, flash flooding and generally hazardous driving conditions.
