Storm Watching in Ucluelet and Tofino (October to March)
- Geoff Johnson
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
If you've been following the UkeeTube project at all you know that storms are a big part my photography. Despite the calm implied by it's name the Pacific Ocean can throw some serious tantrums, particularly in the winter. We tend to see a handful of serious, tree-falling storms every year in addition to more dramatic swell. If you're interested in taking in some Vancouver Island storm watching, It's tough to predict too far out when the storms will come but forecasts are usually fairly reliable about a week out. If you have an adaptable schedule and keep an eye on the weather you can sometimes score good last-minute prices for accommodations.
A major storm on November 2024 led to this video, which was a major turning point in my YouTube channel
Storm watching is exciting but it can be dangerous. Storm surge is unpredictable, high winds can knock down trees and people, alike. Occasionally the weather offers a combination of exciting storm seas with low wind and a bit of light that allows one to capture drone footage of stormy seas, like this
From the ground there are a number of stunning and relatively safe and accessible locations around Ucluelet and Tofino where you can watch the storms;
-The Amphitrite House behind the Amphitrite Lighthouse in Ucluelet offers an elevated, wheelchair accessible deck with views of the waves as they crash onto the rocky point. The opening shots of the video above come from that location.
-The Black Rock Oceanfront Resort has extensive views of the coast around Big Beach in Ucluelet. You can dine in their restaurant or sit in the lobby and watch a storm from behind glass.
-There are other locations along the Wild Pacific Trail that are elevated and relatively safe in the face of charging seas but they do close the trail and local beaches during the largest storms.
-The Kwisitis Visitor Center in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has another wheelchair accessible platform that over looks Kwisitis Beach (aka Wickaninnish Beach).
-In Tofino there aren't as many public, accessible, elevated, outdoor viewing positions but there are places like the Long Beach Lodge and Wickanninish Inn dining rooms that offer great views of the drama.
Winter's big waves also bring some of the most exciting surfing. While most of the rentals and surf lessons get shut down on the properly big days there are a few hard-cores who head to the beach on the really big days. Here's a shot from the Kwisitis viewing platform of some friends surfing in 7 meter swell during a winter storm
If you're interested in coming to watch the storms please be careful. Know that the footage and photos I capture are usually shot with telephoto lenses or drones from safe locations. Don't try to reproduce them with a smartphone camera, down on the rocks. If you'd rather experience the storms from the comfort of your couch, here's a playlist of my storm and wave watching videos
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