Power Outage in Fraser Valley
A powerful windstorm has knocked out power to thousands of homes in the eastern Fraser Valley, particularly affecting areas such as Chilliwack, Agassiz, and Harrison. As of March 11, 2026, the situation has escalated significantly, with multiple outages reported throughout the region.
Just before 9:16 p.m., over 1,000 customers in the Chilliwack River Valley and Ryder Lake experienced power loss due to strong winds. Reports indicate that lights were flickering repeatedly at homes throughout Chilliwack, according to multiple social media updates.
By 9:16 p.m., the situation worsened, with 1,100+ customers in Cultus Lake losing power. The outages continued to spread, and by 10:10 p.m., an outage in Agassiz was affecting just under 1,100 people.
As the night progressed, Abbotsford reported four outages affecting 1,369 customers without power as of 10:25 p.m. The cumulative impact of the windstorm was evident, with BC Hydro reporting at least 36 outages in Chilliwack alone, affecting more than 8,200 customers at 10 p.m.
In the Agassiz-Harrison area, more than 1,800 customers were reported without power due to the high winds. This included a further 1,700 customers in Harrison Hot Springs and along Highway 9, where a tree had fallen across the wires.
Environment Canada had issued a yellow weather warning for wind before noon, indicating that strong winds that may cause damage were expected. Weather Canada noted that the Fraser Valley would be experiencing gusts of up to 90 km/h as the storm progressed.
Residents are advised to secure loose objects and continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. The ongoing outages and strong winds pose significant challenges for local communities and emergency services.
As of now, the situation remains fluid, with utility crews working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full extent of the damage and the estimated time for restoration of services.