A storm has started hitting B.C.'s South Coast bringing heavy wind and rain — and power outages — as a deep Pacific low pressure system batters the region.

BC Hydro says more than 44,000 customers on North and South Vancouver Island are without power due to the windstorm. Most of the problems are in the Cowichan Valley, where several trees have come down.

Power has also been knocked to about 3,000 customers in the Lower Mainland.

Environment Canada has issued a strong winds and heavy rain warning for Metro Vancouver, as wind on west Vancouver Island is expected to reach speeds of up to 100 km/h.

In a special weather alert, the agency warns that between 30 and 40 mm of rain are expected on Thursday, while southwesterly winds could reach speeds of 90 km/h in Metro Vancouver.

Meanwhile, wind warnings are also in place for Greater Victoria, Inland Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands, where gusts are expected to reach a similar speed.

Environment Canada has also issued a wind warning for west Vancouver Island, ahead of very strong winds, gusting up to 100 km/h.

Wind warnings are in place across B.C.'s South Coast on Nov. 6, 2014. (CBC)

As of 6:30 a.m. PT on Thursday, rain warnings are also in place for the Central Coast and the Howe Sound, while wind warnings had also been issued for

A weather statement alerting residents to strong winds was issued for the Sunshine Coast and East Vancouver Island, where gusts could reach speeds of up to 80 km/h.

The heavy rains and strong winds will continue as a deep Pacific low pressure system moving across the region, but are expected to subside Thursday night, when the system moves inland.

Far removed from that system, in northern B.C., Environment Canada has also issued snowfall warnings for the Cassiar Mountains and Watson Lake, where up to 15 centimetres of snow is expected.

Drivers are urged to prepare for changing road conditions and low visibility.

North Shore hit by more rain

Thursday's warnings come only days after Metro Vancouver's North Shore was hit with flash flooding following downpours of 88 mm Monday night.

And only Wednesday residents were warned to brace themselves for another major storm.

On Thursday morning, our reporter Richard Zussman discovered the rains had not brought such severe flooding as Monday, although a soccer field at Cousteau School was underwater.

After another storm on Metro Vancouver's North Shore on Wednesday night, Cousteau School's soccer field was deluged with water. (CBC)

Meanwhile, the creek beside Fromme Road which overflowed on Monday, flooding the area and damaging residents' nearby homes was finally under control.

Reports of severe weather can be emailed to Environment Canada at pacificstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweeted with the hashtag #BCStorm.