On March 8, 2026, a powerful windstorm swept through northern British Columbia, causing widespread power outages that left thousands of residents in Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe without electricity. The storm, which brought gusts exceeding 110 km/h, required BC Hydro repair crews to work through the night to restore service to affected families and businesses.
The provincial power company confirmed that the windstorm triggered nearly 70 individual outages across the region, impacting over 14,000 customers in Northern BC at its peak. While crews were deployed immediately, the scale of the damage meant that some homes and businesses remained without power until the following day.
The loss of electricity also caused significant internet and communication service disruptions for residents in several northern communities. People living in Fort St. John, Chetwynd, and Tumbler Ridge reported issues with their web connections and cellular service as the storm impacted regional infrastructure.
These types of outages have a wide impact in the Peace River region because many local utility and communication systems are linked. When severe weather damaging the electrical grid occurs, it frequently affects the stability of the broader telecommunications network in nearby communities.
