Drought damage raises risk of power outages as B.C. faces 1st big storm of the fall [Video]

BC Hydro is warning of the potential for power outages as the first major storm of the fall rolls into British Columbia.

An active cold front is forecast to move through the B.C. Interior Wednesday, generating thunderstorms and gusty winds, while a developing Pacific storm is expected to move through the province Wednesday night through Thursday.

Environment Canada has issued a slew of alerts, covering most of the Southern Interior.

Wind warnings are in place for much of southeast B.C., including the Kootenay, Boundary, East Columbia and Arrow Lakes regions, with gusts up to 90 km/h in the forecast.

Severe thunderstorm watches are in place for the North and South Okanagan, the Shuswap and the West Columbia regions.

Wind warnings and rainfall warnings are also in place for Haida Gwaii, the Central Coast and northern Vancouver Island.

At the same time, a flood warning has been issuedfor the Telkwa River and flood watches are in place for the Canoe, Blue, Kitsumkalum, Kitimat-Kemano …