What is a ‘bomb cyclone?’

A weather system with an explosive name is behind Metro Vancouver’s first major storm of the fall season.

CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss says a “bomb cyclone” is hitting off the coast of Vancouver Island, prompting advisories for high winds throughout B.C.’s South Coast.

“The low-pressure system bringing the rain and wind is being referred to as a ‘bomb cyclone.’ All low-pressure systems in the northern hemisphere are cyclones. The ‘bomb’ part refers to the rapid intensification of the low pressure,” he explained.

Related Stories: 

• High winds expected for Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island

• Strong winds cancel Hullo, BC Ferries sailings

However, Kuss says those in the Lower Mainland won’t be experiencing the full effects of the storm.

“It’s a massive storm, but it’s mainly off-shore, so that’s the upside. Although we’re feeling effects and we’ll get rain bands, pretty good chance for some thunderstorms on-shore — not just on the Island but on the Lower Mainland,” he said.

“Fortunately, it’s far enough away from the shore that, although we do have wind warnings for the South Coast, we’re not seeing the really serious effects from the storms as you would if it was closer to the coast,” he said.

Kuss says the heaviest winds will be out over the Strait of Georgia and on the east side of Vancouver Island, where gusts could touch 90 km/h. He is also expecting 10 to 25 mm of rain for the Lower Mainland on Monday, with a risk of afternoon and evening storms.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special weather statement for Metro Vancouver on Monday with winds of between 70 km/h and 90 km/h expected.

Looking ahead, Kuss says we’ll likely experience the remnants of the cyclone throughout the week.

“Even with the winds dying out, and the precipitation from the first wave, we’re still going to be affected by this low all the way to potentially Thursday. As it moves up the coast, we’ll still see some rain bands cycling around it. We’ll be into that wet weather on Wednesday and Thursday,” he said.

John Richardson, a biology professor at the University of British Columbia, says these winds put trees in and around Vancouver in a vulnerable position after months of drought.

“Many of the trees in the forests are pretty stressed and one of the consequences of that is some of the roots will have died,” he explained. “If we do get the winds that people predict, many of the trees will lose branches, they may even come down.”

The winds led to some cancelled sailings for BC Ferries and Hullo on Monday.

The Lions Gate Bridge also closed in both directions just before 1 p.m., when a large piece of loose metal blew across and got wrapped around a light fixture at the south end of the bridge — it reopened just before 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, Kuss says Vancouver Island felt the wind to an even greater degree.

“Strongest winds are right along the coast and through the Strait of Georgia — Vancouver Island to the east side of Vancouver Island especially — as those winds wrap around the island and really batter that eastern part of Vancouver Island,” he said.

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With files from Charlie Carey