Lightning, fireworks lighten up wet Metro Vancouver night

METRO VANCOUVER — People around Metro Vancouver witnessed a spectacular light show Saturday. And the fireworks at English Bay's Celebration of Light went off too, despite the rain and lightning storm that wreaked havoc on local events and left thousands of homes without electricity.

As many as 5,000 Metro Vancouver homes were without electricity temporarily Saturday night. Another 3,500 customers in Merritt, Vernon and Salmon Arm were without power in the afternoon due to thunderstorms that brought down trees, according to Jeanette Hoft, BC Hydro spokeswoman for the Thompson/Okanagan/Columbia region.

Downtown, the rain didn't stop fireworks enthusiasts — umbrellas at the ready — from heading to English Bay to catch South Africa's explosive performance.

In Burnaby, rain forced organizers to shut down day one of the two-day Virgin Festival, denying fans the pleasure of seeing headliners the Roots. To make it up to the rain-soaked concertgoers, organizers said ticketholders would be able to use their Saturday tickets on Sunday, when Ben Harper & Relentless7, Sonic Youth and local indie-rock favourites Metric are scheduled to play.

Also in Burnaby, the sold-out soccer match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Puerto Rico Islanders was suspended minutes before halftime. Officials halted play and fans were told to vacate the metal bleachers for safety reasons. Play resumed after a two-hour, 10-minute delay, the hometown side winning 4-2.

Back in Vancouver, the boys of summer were rained out too. The single-A Canadians were in a scoreless tie with the Spokane Indians in the top of the second inning when lightning struck just beyond Queen Elizabeth Park, according to Canadians spokesman Rob Fai. After a one-hour delay, the game was suspended. The Cs are scheduled to resume play at 1 p.m. Sunday, after which game two of the double header is set to start.

Environment Canada expects the clouds to clear early Sunday morning, with temperatures to reach 27 C, up to 31 C inland.