Sept 25 - Bomb cyclone" storm reaches Island

Good morning !

Today we have the latest updates on BC’s first real storm of fall 2023.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ⛈️ 18 / 11

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 15 / 10

Wednesday: 🌦️ 14 / 11

7-day forecast

🌫️ Air quality: Low risk today (2/10). Current smoke forecast.

🚘️ Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

“Bomb cyclone” brings BC’s first major fall storm

As BC weathers its first serious autumn storm this year, there are weather warnings across the Island, and winds could get as high as 120km/h up-Island. A “bomb cyclone” (i.e. a powerful low-pressure system) has reached the coast, and the South Island may get a thunderstorm tonight.

Trees & soil unprepared after drought
UBC forestry professor John Richardson told CityNews that a full September’s worth of rain may fall in some parts of the South Coast in this storm, and after the summer drought he fears that soil and trees will not be able to handle the sudden influx.

But this storm and flooding are not expected to reach the level of November 2021’s atmospheric rivers. Southern coastal BC is currently all under a High Streamflow Advisory, not a full Flood Watch. Fall 2021 did, however, have its own bomb cyclone in October that this storm could resemble.

Full trees could mean more outages
Environment Canada also warns that this early storm may cause more damage than similar ones later in the year because it is happening while more trees still have their full foliage. “The heavy tree branches are more prone to break in strong winds,” it warns, and outages could be high.

The highest concern is in the North Island, where a second frontal system will arrive today, and there are warnings of building damage and utility outages, and a no-camping advisory due to debris in wooded areas.

Wind speeds:

• South Island: 70km/h gusting to 90, declining to 40 to 70 around midday

• East Island: 70 to 90, declining to 40 to 70 this morning

• North Island: Near 100 to 120 in exposed coastal sections, declining to 90 to 110

• West Island: Wind warning over, but still 50 to 70 (to 90 on exposed coast)

By Cam Welch

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Today’s Victoria road closures are listed here.

New fires this weekend: Woodward Road in Port Alberni / Sproat Lake area, and Malcolm Island off the northern edge of Van Isle.

NEWS

Climate concerns at forefront at BC municipalities meeting

Colin Mahoney, lead scientist of the Ministry of Forests, says that while the ministry looks to adapt BC forests for climate change, the efforts will be in vain if the climate is not stabilized.

Speaking at last week’s Union of BC Municipalities annual gathering, Mahoney urged the phasing out of fossil fuels “as rapidly as possible” in order to reach BC’s goal of a decarbonized economy by 2050.

Despite this condemnation of fossil-fuel extraction, major fossil-fuel companies are among the UBCM sponsors, including Fortis BC, Coastal GasLink, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

These sponsorships proved contentious last week, though this year Island municipalities already voted against limits on oil-and-gas sponsors at UBCM. Fortis has also been accused of involvement with Alberta’s campaign against Nanaimo’s recent municipal plan to cut out natural gas in new builds.

Many long-term land plans are up in smoke after recent fires

The rising heat and dry conditions caused by climate change have led to Canada’s worst wildfire season, upending long-term plans from the ministry, with Eamon O’Donoghue, the associate deputy minister of forests, saying these fires “burned through decades of land-use plans we spent years developing.”

“If we don’t change our land management after this year, nature will do it for us, whether we like it or not,” said O’Donoghue.

The ministry hopes its new Forest Landscape Plans will create more sustainable forestry practices by including First Nations and surrounding communities in the decisions of timber harvesting. The province also announced some new firefighting funding (for rural and community fire crews, and a fire prevention campaign) on Friday.

By Robyn Bell

FOOD

9 specialty shops bringing Victoria food from around the world

Bakeries aren’t the only specialty shops around these parts; there are a ton of unique food stores importing spices, foods, and chocolate from around the world for locals.

From far and wide, and sweet to savoury, here are a few specialty food stores where you can get a taste of something new and different—or a taste of home.

Story at Tasting Victoria.

SPONSORED BY THE BAY CENTRE

Quazar’s Pop-up Arcade returns to the Bay Centre

They’re back! Quazar’s newest Pop-Up is revisiting the Bay Centre until the end of October.

This time around Quazar’s has stepped up their game and added Stern Pinball to bring you the classic game of pinball with a modern twist.

Featuring six Premium Edition Stern pinball machines running the Insider Connected platform including: Jurassic Park, Deadpool, Godzilla, Foo Fighters and more.

The pop-up features a live connected leaderboard where the best players will compete for Stern prizes. This all-ages Pop-up arcade is located in centre court of the Bay Centre and is on until October 31, 2023.

Get those high-score bragging rights before it's too late!

⭐️ Capital Picks

 🐸 A Pacific tree frog hides among the leaves in these photos from Denman Island.

🥧 Autumn’s best local coffees and teas have seasonal twists that go beyond just pumpkin spice. [Capital Daily]

❓ Have questions, comments, or concerns about provincial policies, programs, and services in Oak Bay-Gordon Head? Contact BC NDP MLA Murray Rankin at [email protected] or 250-472-8528.*

🤝 Now hiring: Accounting Technician at Westin Bear Mountain

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Victoria magician gets on Spanish competition show
Local sleight-of-hand specialist Jason Verners describes Spain as the “mecca of magic,” and home to many of the world’s best magicians. [CHEK]

Ooh that smell, can you smell that smell?
It’s likely coming from the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt. There’s maintenance work happening there from today until Friday. Updates / More CRD info.

Pacific FC loses chance to finish first, and its grip on second
Pacific scored just three minutes in on Saturday’s road match, but arch-rival Forge FC quickly answered and went on to win 3-1. With two games left, PFC can now no longer catch Cavalry FC for first place in the Canadian Premier League, and has fallen into third place below Forge.
In the unconventional new playoff format, second place offers a direct path to the finals, while third must win two matchups to get there, and fourth must win three. Highlights below:

🗓️ Things to do

📖 Wild Prose Reading: Hear poetic readings on grief and loss at Paul Phillips Hall.

🎶 All Together Now Drop-in Choir: Sing music by the Indigo Girls at this drop-in night.

🐰 Donnie Darko at Cinecenta: The odd, eerie 2001 cult hit airs Tuesday at 5pm and 7:15pm.

🍷 Victoria International Wine Festival returns this week, with wine events at the Victoria Conference Centre and Parkside Hotel & Spa. [Schedule / tickets]

🖌️ Community mosaic unveiling: The Art of Reconciliation project unveils the new piece created with mosaic tiles painted by the community. 4-6pm Tuesday at Greenglade Community Centre.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Nanaimo vs Alberta: The Island municipality’s recent decision to try to phase out natural gas in new buildings as soon as next year has drawn the ire of AB’s $32M pro-fossil-fuel “war room.” [Capital Daily / LJI]

At Sunday’s annual BC Law Enforcement Memorial on the Legislature grounds, thoughts were on Ridge Meadows Const. Rick O’Brien, the BC RCMP officer killed on duty just days earlier. [CTV]

New tourism funding for Broughton pier, a virtual reality arcade, ziplines, and more. [Sunday newsletter]

A beautiful red garter snake photographed in East Sooke.

Victoria’s best hidden-gem restaurants as voted by readers like you. [Tasting Victoria]

A three-legged cat on a tricycle: Miss Bunny and her owner are exploring the Island. [CTV video]

Fight against invasive plants reaches Langford, as volunteers went out yesterday to battle English Ivy. [The Westshore]

Morning coffee with orcas as the T69s visit Oak Bay. [Video]

When do restaurants’ tip-out decisions become stealing? Numerous local workers spoke to Capital Daily with allegations of improper tip allocation—but it’s not always clear where exactly the legal line is drawn. [Read the full story]

That’s it!

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