Environment Canada is warning of strong winds in Victoria and along the west coast of Vancouver Island, while southeastern B.C. could see freezing rain. 

The weather office says winds blowing 80 kilometres an hour with gusts up to 100 are forecast to persist on parts of the island until some time Sunday morning. 

The warning spans the communities of Tofino, Ucluelet and Port Renfrew, Sooke, and the Jordan River area, and strong winds are also expected in Victoria.

Environment Canada says the winds carry a risk of power outages.

Meanwhile, the agency has issued a special weather statement for parts of southeastern B.C., including the Nicola, Boundary, Shuswap and Okanagan regions, where freezing rain is expected tonight through Sunday morning.

The freezing rain statement also covers the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt and Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2023.

The Canadian Press