With more unpleasant weather on the way, BC Ferries once again goes proactive with a Sailing Delay

Delays make for the word of the day for BC Ferries
as officials await the passing of weather system in
Hecate Strait creating Gale conditions

See update at bottom of page:

There's another Pacific front churning off of Haida Gwaii and as it makes its way eastbound, the weather conditions in Hecate Strait are changing and with that so to is the BC Ferries Schedule for the Northern Expedition.

BC Ferries issues a Service Notice this afternoon advising that the 10 PM sailing this evening has been delayed, though so far BC Ferries has not decided on when the vessel will take to its crossing.

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With the change to the schedule out of Prince Rupert, the scheduled sailing in return from Skidegate is also awaiting further review.

An update is expected at 8PM from BC Ferries as to their plans for the sailing.

While the weather appears calm and sunny for Prince Rupert this afternoon, the Hecate Strait is in the midst of a GALE WARNING, with winds to increase to 45 knots by Midnight before diminishing slightly into Tuesday afternoon. The weather maker is also creating seas of up to 4 metres overnight.

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The approaching storm means some windy conditions for Prince Rupert tonight and Tuesday while the heavy rain won't arrive until Thursday at the earliest. The forecast calls for Winds from the Southeast at 60 km overnight and into Tuesday for the North Coast, gusting up to 90km/h for  Haida Gwaii with rain arriving tonight.

Today's delay is just the latest in what has been a busy period of cancelled and delayed sailings as the fall storm season arrives a bit earlier than usual for the North Coast and Haida Gwaii.

Update: BC Ferries firmed up their sailing schedule Monday evening, outlining the revisions as follows:

You can review some of those past notes from our archive page here.