Introduction
Many people in British Columbia had their travel plans changed on Friday morning. BC Ferries had to cancel a lot of sailings because of a big storm. Strong winds and high waves made it unsafe for the big boats to cross the water. The news spread fast, and that is why so many people searched for “BC Ferries” today. If you planned to take a ferry on Friday, November 6, 2026, you needed to check first.
What Happened
BC Ferries cancelled several sailings on Friday morning, November 6. By 7:30 a.m., at least 15 sailings were already cancelled. The first sailings of the day between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay did not run. The 7:50 a.m. sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point and between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay were also cancelled. Ferries to the southern Gulf Islands were hit too.
The storm brought strong winds and big waves to the Strait of Georgia. The Strait of Georgia is the sea between Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland. Wind gusts reached up to 70 kilometres per hour on parts of Vancouver Island. Heavy rain also fell across the region.
The B.C. mainland could get up to 80 millimetres of rain, and Vancouver Island could get more than 100 millimetres. This storm is the first in a series of storms, and it is linked to an atmospheric river. An atmospheric river is a long band of wet air in the sky, and it brings a lot of rain at once.
Why People Are Talking About It
Ferries are a big part of daily life in B.C. Many people use them to get to work, to school, and to visit family. When sailings stop, cars and people pile up at the terminals. That is why the cancellations were one of the top searches in Canada on Friday morning.
Environment Canada also put out wind warnings for parts of Vancouver Island. A special weather statement covered Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast, the Sea to Sky area, and western Vancouver Island. People wanted to know if their ferry would run and when it would be safe to travel again.
What Happens Next
BC Ferries said it is watching the weather closely. The company said it is working to get sailings back on track as soon as it is safe to do so. More stormy weather is on the way, so more delays and cancellations are possible. Travellers should check the BC Ferries service notices before they leave home. That way, they can see which sailings are running and which are not.
Final Thoughts
Friday was a rough morning for ferry travel in B.C. The storm was strong, and safety had to come first. If you need to travel, plan ahead and give yourself extra time. The weather should get better in time, and the ferries will be back on the water. Stay safe, and check the latest updates before you go.
Sources: CTV News and CHEK News. Photo: a BC Ferries vessel at sunset, via Pexels.
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