Updated at 7:45 a.m. May 24
BC Hydro crews are working hard to restore power in the Shuswap. Just over 6,000 hydro customers remain without power, including large sections along the lake in Canoe, extending eastward towards Sicamous.
The Trans-Canada Highway 10 kilometres east of Canoe was closed last night because of downed wires but has since been reopened. Highway 97B four km south of Salmon Arm, which had been closed because of a fallen tree, has also reopened to traffic.
Access in and out of Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road is blocked by fallen trees between Sky Blue Waters Resort and the Sunnybrae Connunity Hall.
A detour is once again available through Turner’s gravel pit.
Highway 97A between Grindrod to Sicamous is reduced to single-lane alternating traffic because of a mudslide.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
wind
Original story
A windstorm in the area has blocked access to multiple roads in the Shuswap, most notably Highway 97B near Grandview Bench Road as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Other areas are also experiencing issues with blocked roads and power outages. A video taken by Salmon Arm resident Rod Watkins shows a tree coming down on Upper Lakeshore Drive just seconds after a Salmon Arm fire truck went past. Some Shuswap residents are being warned it may be up to 24 hours before power can be restored.
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There are multiple trees down across the highway and power lines have also been pulled down cutting power to residences in the Ranchero area.
As well, a semi truck and an silver SUV have been involved in a collision on Highway 97B, further compounding traffic woes.
A detour has currently been re-opened via Grandview Bench Road, but it is alternating single lane traffic only due to the collision.
There is also a unconfirmed reports of small fire on Highway 97 near the Salmon Arm Golf Course caused by downed power lines. Fire trucks were just witnessed heading to that area.
As well, Highway 97B is also is closed near the Auto Road turn off into the Industrial Park due to multiple fallen trees, near the area of the Canoe Creek Golf Course.
BC Hydro is reporting 30 outages in the Shuswap region with 12,680 customers affected as of 8:30 p.m. Power outages are being reported in the Hillcrest, Raven, Blind Bay, Tappen, Canoe and Gleneden areas. A portion of downtown Salmon Arm has also been affected. Sicamous and Enderby and Gardom Lake are also reporting outages.
CP Rail trains are also reporting trees and debris on the rail tracks are impeding train traffic in the Salmon Arm area.
More to come.
