The B.C. government says heavy rains in the forecast may cause more flooding in low-lying areas in parts of the province.
The province says the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers are still under flood warnings, and while it’s expected to be less intense than the downpours last week that triggered widespread flooding in Abbotsford, Environment Canada is warning of “high impact” rainfall today in the Fraser and Skagit valleys.
A flood warning also remains for the North Shore Mountains, where many of the streams are just starting to peak on Monday afternoon.
“This remains a dynamic and evolving situation, and the risks are real,” Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said at a press conference on Monday.
“As forecast, the South Coast received heavy precipitation overnight and into this morning.”
Environment Canada has issued an orange rainfall warning for the City of Abbotsford, due to heavy rain expected, and crews are out assessing culverts, bridges and road conditions.
Drivers are urged to use caution, but the city says Highway 1 is expected to reopen fully eastbound between Whatcom Road and No. 3 Road later on Monday.
Power is out for most of Sumas Prairie due to wind and BC Hydro crews are on the scene. A downed power line has closed Vye Road and Whatcom Road and drivers are asked to avoid the area and follow traffic controls for their safety.
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“The ground is saturated in many areas,” Greene said. “The rivers are full. Additional rainfall is going to increase the potential for more flooding and landslides. Folks should avoid riverbanks and waterways. The water is very high and the banks may not be stable. I urge everyone in affected areas to continue to follow the directions of local authorities.”
As of Monday afternoon, there are approximately 100 properties under evacuation order and about 1,200 under evacuation alert across B.C.’s South Coast.
On Monday afternoon, the City of Abbotsford downgraded evacuation orders for 39 additional properties in Sumas Prairie. These properties remain on evacuation alert and should stay prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice, should conditions change.
On Sunday, the city of Abbotsford also downgraded the status of 248 properties in Sumas Prairie from evacuation orders to evacuation alerts.
The interactive map, which is searchable by address, has been updated to show the status of properties in the evacuation area.
On Monday afternoon, the Fraser Valley Regional District issued an evacuation alert for the area of Sheldon Road due to high river flows in the Chilliwack River Valley.
This alert applies to:
- 48962 Sheldon Road
- 48952 Sheldon Road
- 48942 Sheldon Road
- 1 – 48922 Sheldon Road
- 48902 Sheldon Road
- 48882 Sheldon Road
- 48860 Sheldon Road
- 48850 Sheldon Road
- 4210 Osborne Road
Residents should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton remains closed following damage from the atmospheric river last week. Highway 1 from Hope to Lytton was proactively closed due to the rain expected on Monday, but opened around noon on Monday.
A travel advisory is still in place for the Coquihalla Highway due to the weather and expected debris on the road.
Highway 99 between Lillooet to nine kilometres north of Pemberton was also proactively closed due to the forecast, but reopened around noon on Monday.
There are reports that a rockslide has occurred on Highway 20, but few details are available at this time.
Officials say Vancouver Island is also poised for heavy rainfall, and the province will be watching routes including Highway 4, Bamfield Road and other roads due to possible landslides and falling trees from heavy winds.
Environment Canada has issued a slew of rainfall warnings across B.C., including for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and much of the province’s coast, with some regions expected to see up to 80 millimetres of rain in higher elevations.
Greene said 30,000 sandbags were deployed over the weekend to flooded communities.
Lana Popham, B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, said there are no reports of rising water on any farms in the Fraser Valley, as of Monday afternoon.
She said the ministry has been in contact with each poultry farm that has been flooded and while farmers are concerned, they seem to be confident they are as ready as they can be.
There is one pig farm in the Fraser Valley that has been completely cut off, Popham added.
“They have about one day’s worth of food left,” Popham said.
“So we’re working with that farm, and looking at possibly delivering food by helicopter if that’s needed, which is something that happened also in 2021. It’s a great example of partnerships that happen in the time of need.”
Popham said she also met with Heath MacDonald, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in Canada, on Monday morning and asked the federal government for more support.
-with files from The Canadian Press
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