Metro Vancouverites took to social media this week to report seeing bright flashes of light in the sky accompanied by a strange electrical sound.
Environment Canada is predicting up to 100 mm of rain for Metro Vancouver on Wednesday (Jan. 12), with some areas seeing even more of the wet stuff. Localized flooding is possible as another atmospheric river drenches the region.
Along with the heavy rainfall, sections of the seawall were closed last week as an intense low-pressure system pummelled the city with winds of 70 km/h gusting to 90.
Numerous people took to social media to describe seeing bright flashes of light in the sky on Tuesday night and other nights over the past week. Several locals reported seeing the sky light up following a bright spark, which was accompanied by an "electrical zap sound" or "loud buzz."
Kevin Aquino, a spokesperson for BC Hydro, told Vancouver Is Awesome that the company's transformers "work safely and reliably." However, the inclement weather poses a problem for the power authority.
"What is an issue for us is strong wind and heavy snow causing trees and branches to make contact with power lines," he explained."And we are seeing stronger and more frequent weather events."
When trees (or even birds) contact power lines or transformers, there can be flashes of bright light and possibly a power outage, noted Aquino.
"If British Columbians do encounter these events, we encourage them to contact BC Hydro and provide the location so our crews can proceed with any investigation and repairs."
In the past, locals have shared videos of transformers exploding, sparking, and lighting up the sky.
Oak Bay Fire Crews attended high voltage power lines that had ignited a nearby tree due to high winds early this morning. Crews maintained a large safety perimeter until very busy BC Hydro Crews could attend. Very dangerous, always stay well clear and call 911. pic.twitter.com/HtWF0a3Gg9
— OakBayFire (@OakBayFireDept) January 13, 2021
Someone also shared a video that shows bright sparks created during disconnector switching.
If you see BC Hydro crews at work please respect COVID-19 physical distancing and stay back at least two metres.
To report an outage, call 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) or *HYDRO (*49376) on your mobile or report it online.
Why stay back 10 metres from a downed line?
When a power line touches the ground, the electricity will flow through the ground over a wide area – think of it like ripples in a pool of water. The voltage in the ground is very high at the point of electrical contact but as you move farther away, the voltage will drop off. At around 10 metres, the voltage drops to zero. BC Hydro recommends staying at least this length away.
It’s also important to keep away from any object that is in contact with a power line. This is because the electricity in the line will always seek a path to the ground. This path might include a tree, a vehicle or a fence. These objects then become energized. If you touch the energized line or object, the electricity can flow through your body.
With files from Brendan Kergin.
