UPDATE: Sea to Sky Highway reopens after mudslide from BC windstorm

(UPDATE: Dec. 15 @ 8:30 am) - Highway 99 between Lions Bay and Brunswick Beach has reopened after a landslide Saturday.

DriveBC reported the road connecting Vancouver to Whistler reopened in both directions around 5 am this morning, ahead of an estimated reopening at 9 am.

The landslide that shut the road happened around 10:30 am on Saturday near Brunswick Road during a strong windstorm.

The storm also left more than 300,000 without power, though BC Hydro said all but a few thousand had power back as of Sunday morning.

(Original story: Dec. 14 @ 1:30 pm) - The Sea to Sky Highway linking Vancouver and Whistler has been closed in both reactions after a mudslide near Lions Bay brought down trees and debris to block the road.

The RCMP in Squamish, BC, says the road is not expected to reopen until midnight and no detours are available.

It says there are no reported injuries so far but emergency crews are still working to confirm if anyone was hurt and the extent of the damage.

Photos and videos posted on the social media platform X, formally known as Twitter, and Facebook show toppled trees and debris scattered across the road while ambulance sirens can be heard in the video.

DriveBC says in an update Saturday morning that trees are on the road between Lions Bay Avenue and Brunswick Beach Road, and an assessment is in progress.

#BCHwy99 #SeaToSky

Crews on-scene at landslide at Brunswick Beach in #LionsBay.

Highway Closed. Please avoid area as emergency services & mtce crews assess the area for damage.

Geotech assessment via helicopter.

Check @DriveBC for updates. #Squamish #WestVan #Whistler pic.twitter.com/sIcZ7DBgB3

— Lower Mainland Dist. (@TranBC_LMD) December 14, 2024

The Ministry of Transportation is asking drivers to avoid travelling to the area as emergency crews are on the scene and heavy equipment and ministry personnel are on the way.

The ministry says it will do an assessment and clean up, but it remains unclear how long it might take to reopen.

Drivers are encouraged to check DriveBC for updates on when the highway may be reopened.

As of 1 pm, nearly 200,000 BC Hydro customers are experiencing power outages in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast.