Wicked wind storm blasts the Lower Mainland, causing widespread power outages

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) Some wicked, windy weather has downed trees and power lines, knocking out power to tens of thousands of people across the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast.

There are widespread outages reported including in Langley, Surrey, Abbotsford, Langley Coquitlam, and Surrey, along with North and West Vancouver.

At one point, the Lions Gate Bridge was closed because of trees down in the Stanley Park Causeway.

BC Hydro says it may take until 4 p.m. to get power fully restored.

Wind gusts have hit more than 90 km/hr in some areas.

The same storm is also walloping Washington State, with 75,000 Puget Power customers going without power, at one point.

Here is some important outage info from BC Hydro:

When your lights go out, check to see whether BC Hydro is already aware of the outage by visiting bchydro.com on a mobile device, calling 1 888 POWERON from a corded landline, or *49376 (*HYDRO) on your mobile phone.  If your outage isnt listed, report it to us when you phone. You can also log in to your BC Hydro account to report an outage online.

Heres some tips on what to do during an outage.

Never go near or touch a fallen power line. Always assume that a line or anything that it is in contact with is energized. Stay at least ten metres (33 feet, about the length of a bus) away at all times and do not attempt to remove debris surrounding the line.

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Wicked wind storm blasts the Lower Mainland, causing widespread power outages