A strong thunderstorm swept through parts of British Columbia Monday night, leaving over 2,000 homes and businesses without power. The storm hit areas including Vernon, Coldstream, and Lake Country, where lightning and heavy rain caused power failures around the region.
According to local utility officials, the total number of affected customers reached 2,111. Most of these outages occurred between early and mid-evening as the storm moved across the area. Reports showed that wind and lightning likely disrupted electrical lines.
The hardest-hit areas included parts of Lake Country and Coldstream, where homes went dark around dinner time. In Vernon, several neighborhoods also experienced complete power loss. Street lights and traffic signals were down, causing delays for drivers and raising safety concerns.
Crews from the local utility provider responded quickly. A team was dispatched to restore service as soon as it was safe to do so. Work began shortly after the first reports came in. Power was expected to be restored by 10:10 p.m., depending on weather and repair progress.
Officials advised residents to stay indoors during the storm and avoid touching any downed power lines. Emergency services were also on alert for any storm-related incidents, although no injuries or major damages were reported at the time of writing.
One local resident in Coldstream said the lights went out without warning. “It was quiet, then all of a sudden, we heard a loud boom, and everything went dark,” they said. “I’m glad the crews are out there fixing it so quickly.”
This storm is part of a pattern of changing summer weather across British Columbia. While earlier weeks were dry and hot, this week has brought cooler temperatures, rain, and sudden storms. Experts warn that storms like this can become more common in late summer due to shifts in humidity and air pressure.
Power outages during storms are not unusual in the region. However, quick response times by repair crews help limit how long residents go without electricity. Officials say the key is to report outages as soon as they happen so teams can act fast.
In preparation for more storms, residents are encouraged to have emergency kits ready. These should include flashlights, extra batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, and a charged mobile phone. People using medical equipment that requires power should have a backup plan in place.
Local schools and businesses in affected areas had to adjust briefly due to the outage, but most planned to reopen as normal the next day. No long-term disruption was expected from this specific storm.
For now, power has been returning gradually as crews finish repairs. By late evening, several parts of Vernon had electricity again, and more areas were expected to follow soon.
Utility workers reminded the public to be patient as they continue restoring full service. “Safety comes first,” a technician noted. “We’ll keep working until everyone has power back.”
As the region recovers from this brief but intense storm, weather watchers say more activity is possible in the coming days. People are urged to check forecasts and stay alert for future warnings.
