B.C. storm causes new wildfires, airport delays after more than 7K lightning strikes

British Columbia experienced a powerful thunderstorm system over the weekend, resulting in over 7,000 lightning strikes within a 24-hour period. The storm, accompanied by high temperatures, brought about a heightened risk of new wildfires. The B.C. Wildfire Service reported that lightning-caused fires were recorded in all southern fire centres.

Of the 57 new fires that started in the previous 24 hours, the source does not specify how many were sparked by lightning. Despite the presence of precipitation in many affected areas, the service noted that this helped mitigate fire behavior and the likelihood of new starts.

Currently, there are 172 active wildfires in the province, with 15 being declared out during the same period. As temperatures are expected to rise again this week, the province warns of an increased potential for fire activity, as well as the possibility of holdover fires - lightning-caused fires that smolder undetected until hotter, drier, and windier conditions lead to visible smoke.

The storm's impact extended beyond wildfire concerns, causing disruptions at Vancouver International Airport. Flights faced delays of several hours, with some arriving planes struggling to taxi to their gates due to a lack of information from the airport authority. David Cooper, a passenger, reported being on the tarmac for four-and-a-half hours without adequate communication.

Vancouver International Airport stated that the storm's duration prevented flights from departing between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:55 a.m. Sunday. As a result, the airport activated its terminal response team and called in additional staff to assist passengers. While conditions have improved, the airport continues to experience flight impacts, and officials are working with partners to support schedule recovery and expedite passenger re-routing.