A yard along Chilliwack Lake Road in B.C.’s Fraser Valley sat under floodwater on Wednesday. CBC
Torrential rain swept across B.C.’s Fraser Valley this week, forcing officials to declare a local state of emergency and issue evacuation alerts for hundreds of homes. Several evacuation orders also went out as water levels climbed in low-lying areas.
Strong weather systems pushed across the region, bringing hours of steady rainfall. The storms arrived with enough force to shut down major routes linking the Lower Mainland to the Interior. Officials also issued a travel advisory and urged people to stay off the roads unless necessary.
A flood warning now covers the Sumas River. The alert also includes Washington’s Nooksack River, which often sends water north into Canada during major storms. The river overflowed in 2021 and helped create severe flooding across the Sumas Prairie. City officials say water from the Nooksack may spill over again, but levels should stay lower than those seen in the 2021 disaster.
Warnings also remain in place for the Chilliwack, Skagit, and Coquihalla rivers, all of which continue to rise.
Watching the Nooksack and Sumas Rivers Closely
South of the border, the U.S. Northwest River Forecast Center said the Nooksack could reach levels similar to those recorded during the 2021 floods. The river flows toward Abbotsford through the Sumas River system, which makes it a major concern during heavy storms.
Officials note that conditions differ from 2021. Recent weather had been dry before this week’s rainfall, giving the soil more room to absorb water. Since 2021, crews have also dredged sections of the Sumas River and completed new flood-prevention projects. Even so, the system remains under strain, and flow from the Nooksack may take hours to reach B.C.
Flood risk may continue to rise even after the rain stops, with peak levels expected Thursday morning.
Highways Shut Down Across the Region
Flooding, debris, and unstable slopes forced closures across several major highways. Highway 7 shut down west of Hope. Highway 1 eastbound closed at Bridal Falls, where rising water covered parts of the road. Highway 3 closed at Allison Pass due to debris blocking a culvert.
Highway 5, also known as the Coquihalla, closed between Hope and Merritt because of flooding. Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon also closed due to high avalanche danger. “Access right now between the Lower Mainland and the Interior is limited,” said transportation official Janelle Staite.
Emergency crews continue to monitor the situation and respond to new trouble spots.
Communities Prepare for Changing Conditions
Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens said the city prepared well for this storm. “We are in a much better place than we were in 2021,” he said. The city issued an evacuation alert for 940 properties based on its flood models.
South of the border, Washington declared a state of emergency as rivers reached major flood levels. Landslide risks increased statewide due to saturated ground, and officials warned that thousands may need to leave their homes.
