BC Ferries is warning customers of a high probability of cancellations on many routes Wednesday morning as "potentially damaging" wind gusts of up to 140 kilometres an hour are forecast to sweep B.C.'s south coast overnight.

Environment Canada issued a wind warning for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and most of eastern Vancouver Island Tuesday morning, predicting storm-force winds of up to 100 kilometres an hour in many areas.

Peak gusts in western Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast could top out at 140 km/h sometime Wednesday morning.

The wind will be the strongest over northern Vancouver Island, the agency said.

BC Ferries spokesperson Deb Marshall told CTV News they are prepared to cancel sailings on most routes, including major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, because of severe weather conditions in the Strait of Georgia.

"It can cause passenger discomfort, potential damage to our vessels, so with the safety, the prudent thing to do is tie-up the ships until the high-winds pass through," Marshall said.

An intense Pacific low pressure system is expected to hit the coast overnight, with brisk winds flowing in from the southeast and then heading south as the system changes tomorrow morning.

High winds are expected to persist for most of Wednesday near Vancouver Island.

Strong outflow winds and cold temperatures continue to persist on B.C.'s north and central coast, where wind chill values of -20 are predicted for some areas.

The BC Ferries service notice applies to the following routes:

  • Brentwood - Mill Bay
  • Comox (Little River) - Powell River (Westview)
  • Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
  • Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Nanaimo (Duke Point)
  • Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria (Swartz Bay)
  • Cortes Island(Whaletown) - Quadra Island (Heriot Bay)
  • Hornby Island (Shingle Spit) - Denman Island East (Gravelly Bay)
  • Port McNeill - Alert Bay (Cormorant Island) - Sointula (Malcolm Island)
  • Powell River (Westview) - Texada (Blubber Bay)
  • Vancouver Island (Buckley Bay) - Denman Island West
  • Vancouver Island (Campbell River) - Quadra Island (Quathiaski Cove)
  • Chemainus - Kuper Island - Thetis Island
  • Crofton - Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay)
  • Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Southern Gulf Islands
  • Victoria (Swartz Bay) - Southern Gulf Islands
  • Queen Charlotte Islands (Alliford) - Queen Charlotte Islands (Skidegate)

BC Ferries customers are urged to visit its website for up-to-date service notices.