On March 24, 2026, Environment Canada issued a gale warning for Haro Strait near North Saanich, British Columbia, as a strong storm system moves toward the coast. The warning advises that wind speeds will increase to 35 knots (approximately 65 kilometres per hour) late this afternoon, creating rough water conditions.
The high winds are expected to cause choppy conditions in the 36-kilometre-long waterway, which separates Vancouver Island from the San Juan Islands. While the BC Ferries route between the Swartz Bay terminal and Tsawwassen primarily travels through the Strait of Georgia and Active Pass, the gale conditions in the adjacent Haro Strait and surrounding waters are expected to impact maritime travel. People travelling by water should expect difficult conditions and potential delays.
The ferry service is already operating on a revised schedule through March 30, and a gearbox issue on the Queen of New Westminster has caused additional cancellations today. The storm is caused by an intense low-pressure system moving toward Port Hardy that has already brought heavy winds to the west side of Vancouver Island.
Weather officials expect the wind to stay strong through the evening before slowly calming down after midnight. Mariners are encouraged to listen for updates on the situation through Canadian Coast Guard radio stations or local weather reports.
