Vancouver hit with early morning wind storm

High winds kept B.C. Hydro crews, firefighters, and the Canadian Coast Guard busy in the Vancouver area early Friday morning.

According to Environment Canada, which takes its measurements atVancouver International Airport,the wind blew hardest around 4 a.m. PT, with gusts reaching 72 km/h.

Roughly 5,000 people were without power at various times overnight, primarily in Vancouver and Richmond, as trees toppled onto streets, crushing cars and pulling down power lines.

The wind storm was particularly difficult for boats, as it was what is known as a 'westerly', with strong gusts coming from the west, pushing vessels ashore.

The Canadian Coast Guard spent hours scrambling around to secure several small vessels that were dragging anchor in English Bay and the area around Quadra Island. A Coast Guard spokesperson said nobody was hurt, but it was difficult to estimate how many boats were helped to safety fromthe high swell.