VANCOUVER, B.C. - British Columbia’s storm season now starts long before the first storm arrives, according to a new BC Hydro report that warns drought, prolonged heat and wildfire are leaving behind risks that make fall and winter storms more damaging.
The report, The new reality: Emergency season is year-round, finds that the effects of drought, persistent heat and wildfire can linger long after temperatures cool. Trees weakened by dry conditions and wildfire-damaged landscapes can become more vulnerable when severe fall and winter storms arrive, and with 22 active wildfires still burning across the province and drought conditions lingering in many areas, the transition from wildfire season to storm season is no longer as clear-cut as it once was.
“There isn’t always a clean break between wildfire season and storm season anymore,” said Whitney Deane, BC Hydro spokesperson. “What happens during a hot, dry summer can leave its mark for months. Trees weakened by drought or wildfire may not fail until the first major windstorm arrives, which is why we’re increasingly thinking about preparedness as a year-round effort.”
Trees and vegetation remain the leading cause of storm-related outages across B.C. Prolonged drought can weaken trees and root systems, while wildfire can damage trees that remain standing long after flames are extinguished. Wildfire-affected landscapes can also face increased risks of flooding, erosion and landslides when significant rainfall returns. Forecasters are also monitoring the potential development of a ‘super’ El Niño, which could bring continued weather volatility in the months ahead.
During the 2026 wildfire season, BC Hydro crews replaced 1,265 power poles and 110 transformers while restoring damaged infrastructure across the province. The utility has tripled annual vegetation management spending over the past six years to approximately $150 million to identify and remove hazardous trees and vegetation near power lines, and has expanded the use of advanced weather forecasting and outage prediction tools.
What households should do now
BC Hydro encourages customers to build or refresh a 72-hour emergency kit with water, food, medications, flashlights, batteries and first-aid supplies, and to create a household emergency plan so family members know how they will communicate and where they will go if services are disrupted.
Customers can get the latest outage updates through BC Hydro’s mobile app or at bchydro.com/outages. Stay at least 10 metres away from downed, damaged or low-hanging power lines and always call 911 to report them.
(Source: BC Hydro news release, November 2026)
