Flooding in parts of B.C.’s Fraser Valley leads to major highway closures, state of emergency

oversupply siren in Sumas, launder., heard in Abbotsford, B.C.

atmospherical river prompts flood warnings, evacuations in B.C. | Hanomansing Tonight

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⛔️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy1</a> - Eastbound is CLOSED between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BridalFalls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BridalFalls</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy9?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy9</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HopeBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HopeBC</a> due to flooding. A travel advisory has been issued for all travel in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FraserValley?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FraserValley</a>. <br><br>⚠️There is no eastbound access from the Lower Mainland to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HopeBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HopeBC</a> at this time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy7</a> remains closed between…

In addition to the earlier-announced closure of Highway 7 west of Hope, Highway 1 will be closed eastbound at Bridal Falls, between Hope and Highway 9, due to a significant amount of water, says Janelle Staite from the B.C. Transportation Ministry.

Highway 3 will be closed in the Allison Pass area due to a debris fall that’s blocking a culvert, she adds.

The critical Highway 5 or Coquihalla stretch between Hope and Merritt is also closed due to flooding along the corridor.

In addition, Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon has been closed due to high avalanche risk.

“Access right now between the Lower Mainland and the Interior is limited,” Staite acknowledged.

Officials have begun their update on the flood situation in southwest B.C.

Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene says road access to the Interior from the Lower Mainland will be closed, in order to provide space for evacuees and emergency responders.

She says a travel advisory has been issued for areas of the Fraser Valley, and people are being asked to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

Some things to watch tonight are water levels and discharge on the Sumas River, which carries water from the Nooksack River up into B.C.

The graph here shows the hydrometric data from the station on the Sumas River near Huntingdon, on the Canadian side of the border.

Water levels are currently around 3.25 metres – well above the normal levels of about 1.5 metres, but still well short of the approximately 4.2-metre water level we saw during the 2021 floods.

Many officials will be watching this station closely overnight, and through much of tomorrow, to see how much higher these numbers climb.

B.C. Officials will be providing an “urgent” update on the flooding situation at 8:30 p.m. PT.

Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene will be attending, along with technical experts from the provincial River Forecast Centre. It will be streamed online.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens and city emergency operations director Erick Peterson just posted a short video to social media updating residents on the flood warning in place for the community.

“We recognize that the heavy rain and localized flooding that we are experiencing is likely causing some anxiety given the events of 2021,” Siemens said.

“I want to assure you that we are in … a much better place than we were in 2021, and that the emergency operations centre is fully staffed and prepared to support as this event unfolds.”

The City of Abbotsford said it issued an evacuation alert for 940 properties based on its modelling, which shows flooding from the Nooksack overflow might be more than was seen in the floods of February 2020, but not as significant as those of November 2021.

This time-lapse image captured by the U.S. Geological Survey over the past day shows the waters of the Nooksack River overflowing in Everson, Wash. €” an area officials in B.C. Say they are keeping a close eye on, as it's expected to send water over the border into Canada.

Forecasters had warned that the atmospheric river system currently inundating B.C. Was likely to have a larger impact on Washington and Oregon.

Robert Ezelle from the emergency management division of the Washington Military Department said landslide risks had increased statewide and would remain that way due to saturated soil.

“What we're seeing is multiple rivers — all the way from the border with Canada down to southwestern Washington — are currently at moderate to major flood stage levels, and we're going to just see those levels increase as we go into tomorrow and Friday,” he told reporters earlier today.

While much of B.C.’s Fraser Valley is, as the Chilliwack mayor said, in a "wait-and-see" stage, neighbouring Washington state is dealing with record flooding after its second storm in just a few days.

Washington has now declared a state of emergency due to flooding, with Gov. Bob Ferguson saying officials expect as many as 100,000 residents could be ordered to evacuate their homes.

“Lives will be at stake in the coming days,” he said.

In an emergency briefing, Ferguson said he was asking the federal government to approve the emergency declaration and provide the state with funds to help save lives.

Major flooding is expected in some areas, including the Skagit River valley, a major agricultural region north of Seattle. Ferguson said the state expects its affected rivers to hit historic levels as early as 4 a.m. Tomorrow, “lasting into Friday morning,” he said on X.

Be sure to close all doors and windows. Latch any gates, but do not lock them. If you have natural gas, do not turn it off — FortisBC will do that, if needed.

If you do need to evacuate your home, aim to travel in one vehicle so you do not contribute to traffic congestion. It’s also suggested you offer transportation to neighbours or people in need, if you have space in your vehicle.

Two jurisdictions in the Fraser Valley have issued evacuations warnings and/or alerts for people living in areas at risk of flooding.

People living in the affected areas are being asked to prepare to leave on short notice.

Here’s what you can do to get ready, according to the Fraser River Valley District and the City of Abbotsford:

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