Updated: The B.C. government has announced the 30L limit on fuel for non-essential vehicles on B.C.’s is being extended until Dec. 14. The state of emergency has also been extended.
Barely two weeks after an atmospheric river hit southern B.C. Nov. 14-15, causing evacuations, widespread flooding and mudslides, more storms are on the way. Watch this file for updates with the latest evacuations, road closures and weather forecasts.
To recap our day-by-day flood coverage , read our live blogs that document flood updates and developments in chronological order.
Part 4: Tuesday, Nov. 30 – present
You’re reading: Wednesday, Nov. 24 – Nov. 29
Part 2: Wednesday, Nov. 17 – Tuesday, Nov. 23
Part 1: Sunday, Nov. 14 – Tuesday, Nov. 16
For all our coverage on the Fraser Valley flooding and beyond, read our previous stories.
• For the latest road closures, check this DriveBC list .
• For the latest weather warnings, check this Environment Canada page .
• For the latest transit updates, follow TransLink on Twitter
• For the latest on power outages, check out B.C Hydro’s outages page .
• And follow the Twitter hashtag #bcstorm .
4:30 p.m. – Abbotsford mayor confident flooding will not worsen during Tuesday’s rain storm
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun took to the podium again on Monday, this time with a brighter message for residents, saying “we are holding our own” as the next atmospheric river approached.
Braun has given regular in-person updates since the first monster storm hit the region more than two weeks ago, leading to the flooding of the Sumas Prairie and mass evacuations.
At one point he warned the Barrowtown Pump Station was set to fail — it was saved by volunteers with sandbags — then a few nights later warned a new levee was needed to save the prairie. Fortunately, engineers were able to rebuild the main failed dike.
Braun has pulled no punches, but on Monday said the city was in good shape.
“Water levels are stable (in the Sumas Prairie), with a decrease of two inches in the past day,” Braun said, adding that extensive further flooding expected from the Nooksack River in Washington on Sunday had not materialized.
A social media post by the City of Sumas in Washington says floodwaters from the river continued to move north toward Canada but had not yet reached a key bridge about 500 metres from the border.
Braun said that the floodgates at the Barrowtown Pump Station were also reopened early Monday morning, allowing the Sumas Prairie to drain into the Fraser River.
— David Carrigg
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. today. The briefing is meant to provide updates on the flooding, current conditions, and the ongoing state of local emergency. It will be held at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium at Abbotsford City Hall on 32315 South Fraser Way and will be live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel here or watch it here:
The stretch of Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton has been reopened for essential travel only. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure warns drivers, however, to expect delays as cleanup and repairs continue.
The stretch of Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet has also been reopened for essential travel, albeit with weight restrictions. The ministry says only vehicles with a licensed gross vehicle weight under 14,500 kilograms are permitted on this section of Highway 99.
For a list of essential purposes for travel, click here .
The province has extended fuel rationing, asking drivers of non-essential vehicles to limit purchases to 30 litres per visit, until Dec. 14, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said.
“We need to stay the course until the Trans Mountain pipeline is back online,” Farnworth said during Monday’s flood briefing about the critical infrastructure link, which was taken offline Nov. 14 due to risks of damage from catastrophic flooding.
That might occur by mid-week, according to the most recent statement from Trans Mountain, which said on Friday that difficulties accessing remote locations where its right of way needs to be restored was the key reason slowing down work.
The facility did not suffer serious damage and remains “in static condition,” awaiting restart.
Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Minister Bruce Ralston said shippers and retailers have “been able to maintain steady fuel (shipments)” into the region by rail and barge in the meantime.
The government has also extended the state of emergency until Dec. 14.
— Derrick Penner
You can watch the government’s flood update here:
Flood warnings are posted for a section of British Columbia’s southern Interior and flood watches or high water advisories cover large parts of the province, as it deals with the consequences of a second major rainstorm in as many weeks and braces for a third.
Environment Canada says more than 100 millimetres of rain drenched the Fraser Valley city of Abbotsford over the weekend, while more fell in Hope and another 100 mm could fall once the third storm arrives tonight .
Flood warnings have been issued for the Coldwater, Coquihalla, Nicola and Tulameen rivers, which all caused serious flood damage earlier this month to cities and towns along their banks, including Merritt, Spences Bridge, Princeton and Hope.
A flood warning also remains in effect for the Sumas River through Abbotsford, where rising levels forced crews to set up a portable dam last night to protect a key stretch of Highway 1.
Braun said the flood zone is so saturated that more water from the Nooksack River would simply surge above ground “like a surfer.”
“It’ll come here a lot faster than in the previous event,” Braun said Sunday while providing an update on flood-management measures. Flooding has destroyed dairy and poultry farms as well as fruit and vegetable fields in one of B.C.’s prime agricultural areas.
— The Canadian Press
City of Abbotsford crews, along with the Canadian military and transportation ministry workers, worked throughout the night to build a “tiger dam” on Highway 1 near Cole Road in a bid to hold back flood waters from the Sumas River.
Crews have been working throughout the night to make this happen. Thanks to everyone involved! pic.twitter.com/gPcn2173sQ
Highway 1 was closed to all traffic Sunday night, said Abbotsford Police, which tweeted: “A dam is currently being built and no access will be possible.”
The dam was completed 4 a.m. on Monday.
A tiger dam is a series of water-filled tubes over a metre tall that act as a barrier against floods.
Photos shared by the transportation ministry on social media showed crews working to erect the dam:
Another look at the tiger dam we’re setting up tonight on #BChwy1 in #Abbotsford to hold back Sumas River floodwaters. Working in collaboration with the Canadian military, Shxwowhamel Ventures, @AbbyPoliceDept @BCRCMP to create a barrier that works to address the #BCflood. pic.twitter.com/pG3e2EUTJV
Abbotsford Fire trucks pumping water into the tiger dams.
Crews are working to set them up tonight on #BChwy1 in #Abbotsford to hold back Sumas River floodwaters. Working in collaboration with the Canadian military, Shxwowhamel Ventures, @AbbyPoliceDept @BCRCMP. #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/LqkAB2mz9m
— Cheryl Chan
Schools in the Fraser-Cascade will be closed on Monday.
In a letter to parents and staff Sunday , the district said flooding and road closures are making it difficult for staff and students to travel to schools. It decided to close schools “out of an abundance of caution” and warned that due to incoming storms, more closures are possible this week.
The Fraser-Cascade school district serves Boston Bar, Yale, Hope, Silver Creek, Kent, Harrison and Agassiz.
In Abbotsford, two schools will move to remote learning this week due to flooding.
— Cheryl Chan
A third atmospheric river in just one week is set to hit the region with heavy rain starting Tuesday into Wednesday.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement early Monday about the coming storm, warning of potential flooding, water pooling on roads, and snow melt.
Rain is expected for Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast Tuesday morning before the system spreads to the Fraser Valley, including hard-hit Abbotsford, on Tuesday night.
The rain will continue Wednesday, with about 50 to 100 mm expected to fall. Strong winds of up to 60 km/h near the Strait of Georgia will also accompany the rain.
Meanwhile, a storm is expected to arrive over the Coquihalla Highway — sections of which are still damaged from the intense rain storm in mid-November — Monday night, bringing steady rain of up to 70 mm until Wednesday. Environment Canada is warning of potential impacts to infrastructure, adding “precipitation will particularly impact the western and upslope sections of the highways.”
The affected area of the highway is from Hope to the Coquihalla Summit. Areas north of the Summit and east of Manning Park are expected to receive less rain.
— Cheryl Chan
The Fraser Valley Regional District has issued evacuation orders for more than a dozen properties in Chilliwack and Hope.
Residents of 49269 Chilliwack Lake Road and 49279 Chilliwack Lake Road were ordered to leave their homes Sunday due to an “immediate and continuing risk” of landslides, while an evacuation order for Othello Road near Hope was expanded to include more homes.
Other residents had to get ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
One evacuation alert covers Laidlaw Road, Fancher Road, McKay Road, Dent Road, and Hunter Creek Road in Laidlaw, Electoral Area B. It consolidates previous evacuation alerts for the Lorenzetta Creek and Wahleach (Jones) Creek issued previously. The regional district said there is potential for more flooding from a possible release of water from B.C. Hydro’s Wahleach Dam, which could increase downstream flows.
A second evacuation alert covers approximately 1,600 properties in the Hatzic Valley, where many streams are full or overflowing and slopes are saturated. While the alert is broad, the district said any evacuations are expected to be limited based on what happens to specific streams or slopes.
— Cheryl Chan
“The land is supersaturated, none of that water is going into the ground, that water is coming straight over like a surfer on top of the water that’s there,” Braun said at an afternoon news conference.
“Sandbag walls are not going to stop the Nooksack — that river is one-tenth the size of the Fraser. You can imagine the kind of water flow.”
The second in a series of atmospheric rivers moved in Saturday and was still dumping rain in some areas 24 hours later, while a third and possibly more severe storm is forecast to arrive on the southern coast on Tuesday.
Braun said Abbotsford’s dikes were in better shape Sunday than they had been ahead of the disastrous flooding two weeks ago thanks to repairs and added height.
“What we don’t know is was there any damage done to the integrity of the dike that we can’t see,” Braun said. “We have done what we can do and we are ready, as ready as we can be, for the event that is about to unfold.”
— Sarah Grochowski
An evacuation order has been issued for seven units in a townhouse complex in Abbotsford due to a mudslide.
Those living in units #12-18 of 2842 Whatcom Rd. have been ordered to leave the area immediately.
The City of Abbotsford has also issued an evacuation alert for several homes on Sandringham Drive. The house numbers on alert are: 36187, 36191, 36195, 36199, 36203, 36207, 36211, 36215, 36219 and 36223.
Robert Bateman Secondary and WJ Mouat Secondary in Abbotsford will move to remote learning this week due to the impact of renewed flooding in the area, the school district announced Sunday night.
All other schools will remain open to in-person learning. More details here .
Meanwhile, the University of the Fraser Valley, which was to return to in-person classes this week, will instead continue with remote learning at its campuses from Nov. 29-Dec. 5. More details here .
The city of Merritt has been upgraded from a flood watch to a flood warning by the B.C. river forecast centre.
Merritt Mayor Linda Brown said in an update on Sunday night that the city continues to monitor the situation along the Coldwater River.
“All is not grim, however,” she said. “City crews have been able to protect critical infrastructure, repair dikes and reinforce banks along the Coldwater River.”
We have just received word that #Merritt has been upgraded from a Flood Watch to a Flood Warning by the BC River Forecast Centre. City staff continue to monitor river gauges and actual conditions in the Coldwater River. Watch Mayor Brown’s update: https://t.co/KJviwN2E3e
She said that those residents on evacuation alert should be prepared to leave on short notice.
The District of Hope has declared a State of Local Emergency as there is a potential of overland flooding and compromised access.
All evacuees are being directed to register at Abbotsford Tradex at 1190 Cornell Street or online at ess.gov.bc.ca .
Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Chilliwack has closed as flood waters are expected to reach the Fraser Valley city from Washington State this evening.
The closure is between McCallum Road (exit 90) and Yale Road (exit 109) and applies to all traffic, including emergency, essential and construction vehicles. According to the Abbotsford police, a dam is currently being built and no access will be possible.
HIGHWAY 1 IS CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC. This includes emergency, essential and construction vehicles. A dam is currently being built and no access will be possible.
A dam is currently being put in place to hold back the Sumas River from flooding Highway 1.
Another look at the tiger dam we’re setting up tonight on #BChwy1 in #Abbotsford to hold back Sumas River floodwaters. Working in collaboration with the Canadian military, Shxwowhamel Ventures, @AbbyPoliceDept @BCRCMP to create a barrier that works to address the #BCflood. pic.twitter.com/pG3e2EUTJV
Highway 1 also remains closed between just east of Highway 9 and Hope, through the Popkum/Bridal Falls area.
Highway 7 remains open between Mission and Hope. Drivers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place on this section of Highway 7.
3:30 p.m. – Flood siren sounded in Sumas
The flood siren in Sumas has been sounded as the Nooksack River has spilled over its banks in the Washington State city.
Flood waters are expected to arrive in Abbotsford in a few hours.
#NooksackRiver is now over the bank in #Everson and crossing Emerson rd. #wawx #flood #whatcomcounty pic.twitter.com/UVEZhLNWAB
An Evacuation Alert issued by the Fraser Valley Regional District on November 26 for Lorenzetta Creek, and on November 27, 2021 for Wahleach (Jones) Creek has been consolidated and expanded into a new evacuation alert for the Laidlaw area on Sunday afternoon.
Flooding from multiple waterways, including Lorenzetta Creek, Wahleach Creek, and Hunter Creek in the Laidlaw area caused by heavy rainfall is causing overflow and flooding into surrounding areas. There is potential for additional flooding from a possible release of water from BC Hydro’s Wahleach Dam which could increase flows downstream.
Because of the potential danger to life safety and health, FVRD has issued an Evacuation Alert for the following areas: Laidlaw Road, Fancher Road, McKay Road, Dent Road, and Hunter Creek Road.
Meanwhile, an existing evacuation alert on two properties on Othello Road in Hope has been upgraded to an evacuation order.
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun says U.S. authorities told him at 1:30 p.m. that the Nooksack River that is fed by Mount Baker has breached local dike systems and is flowing north to Abbotsford.
This is expected to worsen flooding in Abbotsford, with the water expected to arrive in a few hours.
He said the water levels in the Sumas Prairie have risen three inches over the past day and that local dikes were being raised.
Braun said sandbag walls would not stop the Nooksack, which carries one-tenth of the amount of water in the Fraser River.
While the course of the Nooksack flows to Bellingham, when it floods the water flows north along its ancient river course.
Braun also told media that the floodgates at the Barrowtown pump station had been closed due to rising water levels in the Vedder Canal (Chilliwack River). The Vedder Canal flows into the Fraser River and water levels must be two feet below water levels in the Sumas Lake canal in order for the floodgates to work.
Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth says the province is ready to use for the first time its “alert-ready program” as preparations are made for a potentially extreme atmospheric river due to hit B.C. on Monday night.
Farworth said Monday and Tuesday’s weather event could be as bad or worse than the storm pulse two weeks ago that devastated south-west B.C.
The alert-ready program would send out local warnings via text on smartphones and on local television and radio broadcasts if there is an imminent and potentially deadly threat for a specific area.
Farnworth said the situation in B.C. was “extremely volatile” and that the Fraser Valley had already suffered profound flood damage.
Farnworth said that Red Cross Canada had so far distributed $2.25 million to flood evacuees and the province would triple the amount of any donation made to the Red Cross’s flooding fundraiser.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope/Fraser Canyon, Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton and Highway 1 between Pemberton and Lilloet remain closed as a precaution due to a mild storm expected to die off later today.
Raw video sent to us by Ryan Gemser shows mudslide/waters flowing onto Sevester Road from flooded creek in Mission this morning.
Rainfall warnings remain in effect in the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver, Fraser Canyon, Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast, West Vancouver Island and Whistler.
The latest special weather statement for Metro Vancouver states up to 50 mm of rain will fall today due to a intense Pacific frontal system.
The Fraser Valley statement says between 40-60 mm of rain will fall today and is expected to taper off this evening.
However, another potentially stronger Pacific storm is predicted to move through B.C.’s southwest on Tuesday.
Heavy and ongoing rain has forced the evacuation of Huntington Village in flood-struck Abbotsford.
The evacuation order includes the following areas:
• North Boundary: All of 2nd Avenue
• South Boundary: USA Border
• West Boundary: Sumas Way
• East Boundary: 2nd Ave to Southern Rail (including the glass plant).
Residents have been told they must leave the area immediately as emergency crews work to support the evacuation effort.
Flood watches were also issued overnight for the Tulameen, Similkameen, Coldwater and Nicola rivers.
The second in a series of atmospheric rivers moved in Saturday bringing steady rainfall that Environment Canada doesn’t expect to let up until this afternoon. However, a third atmospheric river, possibly one of even greater intensity, is forecast to arrive on Tuesday.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for 18 properties in the Pemberton Meadows area, while the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has done so for another 49 properties outside Merritt and Spences Bridge. Residents there have been advised to pack essential items and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if conditions worsen.
Dozens of communities remain on flood watch and weather alerts are currently posted across southern B.C.
As a preemptive measure, Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton and Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet were closed yesterday amid storm warnings. The Transportation Ministry notes the highways were previously impacted by extreme weather, and it says their reopening will depend on weather conditions.
BC Drive also reported overnight that flooding had forced the closure of a 4.8 kilometre stretch of Highway 7 in Maple Ridge.
In the prime agricultural area of Abbotsford, Mayor Henry Braun said yesterday that while he was confident the city could handle this weekend’s rainfall, it could not handle another overflow of the Nooksack River into Sumas Prairie.
The Nooksack runs south of the border and Braun said American officials have informed him its dikes were damaged in the last flood.
— Canadian Press
The Fraser Valley Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for properties in the Laidlaw area because of potential flooding from the Wahleach Creek caused by heavy rainfall.
Evacuation Alert: An Evacuation Alert has been issued for some properties in Electoral Area B, Laidlaw. Properties affected are near Wahleach/Jones Creek. Find the Alert details at https://t.co/1Oc86kLsJr
Properties along Laidlaw Road and Fancher Road near Wahleach Creek in Laidlaw in Electoral Area B of the Fraser Valley Regional District.
To see the map of affected properties, click here .
Whatcom County officials have warned Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun to expect additional flooding from the Nooksack River by Sunday as the latest atmospheric river event is forecast to deliver 120 millimetres of rain to the region.
“Floodwaters from the Nooksack River are anticipated to cross into the west side of Sumas Prairie near Huntington Village tomorrow,” Braun said in the city’s Saturday afternoon briefing.
Huntington Village remains on evacuation alert and Braun urged them to be ready to leave on short notice.
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR HUNTINGDON RESIDENTS:
The Huntingdon area remains on evacuation alert and residents there should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. pic.twitter.com/xN08b8PrIL
“Prior to an evacuation order being issued, we will be doing our very best to provide residents with as much advance notice as possible,” Braun said. “However, residents still need to be prepared to leave immediately.”
Braun said he met with Whatcom County officials earlier Saturday, who warned that the Nooksack is expected to reach “a moderate flood stage” by Sunday. And due to damage and sediment buildup, it would it would be difficult to predict the course of any flood water into Abbotsford.
Conditions in flood-ravaged Sumas Prairie were stable with flood waters having receded some 22 centimetres in the previous 24 hours, Braun said, before the resumption of rainfall Saturday morning, Braun said.
“That may not be the case for today into tomorrow,” Braun said.
Sumas Prairie itself remained under evacuation order while Canadian Armed Forces remained in place to help sandbagging efforts along the Southern Rail line in Huntington Village
As of Saturday’s briefing, Braun said Canadian Armed Forces were supporting sandbagging efforts along the Southern Railway line in Huntington Village, which was expected to be complete as the event started.
Repairs to Abbotsford’s dike system near Atkinson road were 95 per cent complete as of Saturday, Braun said, and work to raise six to seven kilometres of the structure was 30 per cent complete.
He added that the critical Barrowtown pump station remains fully operational, but “due to the high level of risk we are still facing, we are not anticipating to lift any of the current evacuation orders before the middle of next week.”
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will close Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton and Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon, as well as between Popkum Hope, starting at 2 p.m. as a proactive measure due to increased flooding risks under heavy rains.
⚠️ PLANNED CLOSURES now in effect for the following #BCHwys due to the potential #BCStorm impact⚠️
⛔️ #BCHwy3, #HopeBC to #PrincetonBC
ℹ️https://t.co/6X6QlFZvx4
⛔️ #BCHwy1 in the Fraser Canyon
ℹ️https://t.co/pr5wTt0oa7
⛔️ #BCHwy1, #Popkum to Hope
ℹ️https://t.co/e2T0ydwjSV
Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet will be closed as of 4 p.m. today, with the duration of closures dependent on the weather.
Highway infrastructure in those areas remains extremely vulnerable due to recent storm events with additional atmospheric river conditions posing an additional risk.
Besides weather concerns, Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope is being closed while B.C. Hydro makes necessary releases of water from the Jones Lake Reservoir, which is also being impacted by the heavy rains.
Ministry officials will reevaluate conditions Sunday morning and will reopen the roads when it is safe to do so. Drivers can find updates at DriveBC.ca .
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. Saturday to provide an update on the flooding situation.
The press conference will be live-streamed on the City’s YouTube channel:
A rain warning for B.C.’s South Coast remains in effect, with up to 120 millimetres of rain expected in some parts of the region from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon.
Environment and Climate Change Canada says the rain will start to ease Sunday afternoon.
Rainfall amounts for this rainstorm will vary from about 60 millimetres in Vancouver to 80 millimetres in the Fraser Valley to 100 millimetres closer to the mountains. Squamish may see up to 120 millimetres, according to the agency.
For the Sea to Sky highway, the agency said precipitation will start as light snow north of Brandywine and transition to heavy rain this afternoon.
Warmer weather is expected to cause freezing levels to rise well above the mountain tops on Saturday.
The agency warns that snowmelt will contribute to runoff, increasing the risk of flooding and possibly impacting vulnerable landscapes and infrastructure.
Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.
Trudeau arrives in Abbotsford
B.C. Ministry’s of Transporation plans to close Highway 3 (between Hope and Princeton), Highway 99 (between Pemberton and Lillooet) and Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon Saturday afternoon to prevent further danger from incoming rainfall.
“The highway infrastructure in these areas is extremely vulnerable following recent storms, and more heavy rain in the forecast poses an additional risk,” it said in a statement Friday.
It’s unclear exactly what time the closures will begin or how long they will last.
The province says that will depend on the weather, though they will be re-evaluated Sunday morning.
—Sarah Grochowski
British Columbia has begun soliciting companies to help rebuild highways ravaged by one of the worst floods on record in the western Canadian province even as impending storms threaten to hinder recovery efforts.
The province is seeking requests for qualifications from construction and engineering firms to reconstruct two heavily damaged roads, Highway 8 and Highway 1 — the latter a part of the Trans-Canada, the country’s main coast-to-coast highway system.
“When we rebuild, we will rebuild better than it was,” Transportation Minister Rob Fleming told reporters Friday. “Our infrastructure will be rebuilt to withstand the new climate realities that we find ourselves in.”
British Columbia, a major conduit to Asia and home to Canada’s largest port, is in a state of emergency after a so-called once-in-a-century storm washed away chunks of highways and shut down the tracks of both major railways, cutting off the region by land from the rest of the country for days.
—Bloomberg
B.C. residents should prepare for more dangerous rainstorms, says one of Canada’s top meteorologists, announcing a red-level weather alert.
Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said B.C. is about to be hit with another atmospheric river, a weather system that taps into sub tropical moisture.
He said this system is “extraordinarily strong” and has the potential to be as severe as the one that drenched the South Coast Nov. 13., causing widespread devastation in the forms of floods and deadly mudslides.
“We still have dangerous weather ahead,” he said, at a news briefing on Friday afternoon.
Armel said the first of three rainstorms hit the coast Thursday brought between 40 and 60 millimetres of rain and even more in Howe Sound. He said these three storms are happening back to back with little time in between and he expects the rain to saturate the ground.
—Tiffany Crawford
B.C.’s Transportation Minister has warned that more extreme rain is on the way on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could cause more flooding and landslides.
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun says the city is bracing for more rain in the coming days than the initial atmospheric river earlier this month that caused catastrophic flooding.
At a news conference Friday, Braun said conditions had remained stable with the Barrowtown Pump Station — a four-pump station that keeps the Fraser River out of the Sumas Lake Canal and protects many square kilometres of prime agricultural land.
With the Sumas River stable the floodgates remain fully open dumping water into the Fraser River, he said. However, he cautioned that things could take a turn for the worse.
“We remain very concerned about the coming weather events,” he said.
Abbotsford received about 50 millimetres of rain overnight, and they are expecting another deluge this weekend.
During the first atmospheric river from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14, Abbotsford received 180 millimetres of rain. Braun said they are expecting 90 to 120 millimetres on Saturday and Sunday and then another 150 millimetres on Tuesday and Wednesday.
—Tiffany Crawford
My home of BC 🇨🇦 continues to face a crisis from the brutal #BCFloods. Homes, farms, schools, roads and vulnerable communities. Rebuilding will take time. Blake and I made a donation to @redcrosscanada. If you’d like to help, here’s a link ➡️ https://t.co/U0joCn9tqp pic.twitter.com/UYpdwSQM0z
Environment and Climate Change Canada has lifted a rain warning but has posted another special weather statement to say that more heavy rain is on the way for B.C.’s South Coast Saturday night and Sunday.
The agency is forecasting up to 60 millimetres of rain over the southern sections, up to 80 in Abbotsford and up to 120 millimetres near the mountains.
Rain will begin for most areas Saturday morning but the heaviest rain will be Saturday night, the agency said.
The agency also warns that a strong warming will accompany this system causing snow levels to rise well above the mountain tops Saturday afternoon.
“Snowmelt will contribute to run off, increasing the risk of flooding and possibly impacting vulnerable landscapes and infrastructure,” the alert said.
8:15 p.m. – Trudeau to visit flood-ravaged areas of B.C.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to be in B.C. Friday to visit areas affected by the flooding and meet with provincial, civic, and First Nation leaders.
Trudeau’s schedule says he will be in the Abbotsford area and will also meet with members of the military, first responders and volunteers.
He is to be in Victoria later in the day to meet with Premier John Horgan.
8:00 p.m. – Southern B.C. braces for back-to-back storms
Up to 50 millimetres predicted to pummel southwest B.C. by Friday morning.
3:15 p.m.- Gas arrives in Vancouver by barge
Two U.S.-flagged fuel tankers have arrived in Vancouver from Washington state, both were heading toward open ocean from Puget Sound when they turned sharp right to Vancouver.
2 p.m.- Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun updates flooding
Water levels have remained consistent in Sumas Prairie.
“We’re still moving in a positive direction,” Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said at a news conference Thursday. “Although today’s rain has definitely had an impact on the Barrowtown Pump Station’s ability to reduce the flood levels in the eastern portion of Sumas Prairie.”
Water levels are not increasing as a result of the first storm Thursday, which prompted Environment Canada to issue a rainfall warning for the Fraser Valley.
Repairs to a critical dike in Abbotsford by Canadian Armed Forces members are nearing completion.
“Our dikes are now at a level they were at before.”
As many as 1,300 people have registered for emergency support services at Abbotsford’s emergency reception centre at Tradex, run by the city in collaboration with Emergency Support Services BC and Samaritan’s Purse.
As evacuees wait in the shelter and at friends’ and relatives’ homes, more than 1,500 rapid damage assessments have been undertaken by Canada Task Force 1.
“It’s an important step in determining when evacuation orders can be lifted,” Braun said. “It is vital that we conduct these rapid assessments so we can ensure that people can return to their homes, barns and businesses as safely as possible.”
More than 1,500 additional safety assessments are expected to be completed in the coming days and weeks.
Braun said the city is also keeping a close eye on the river level predictions for the Nooksack and Sumas rivers with the downpours expected from three atmospheric river storms.
“What I’m worried about is what will the Nooksack do?”
The city is still unsure how much more water its existing systems, including Barrowtown Pump Station which works to divert water from Yarrow and Sumas Prairie streams and ditches, can take.
“It really depends on the Nooksack. We have a very careful eye on the Nooksack,” Braun said.
— Sarah Grochowski
British Columbians are being urged to prepare for another series of rain storms, as Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley reopens on Thursday afternoon.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said geotechnical engineers have confirmed that Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley will reopen to the general public at 2 p.m.
However, he said there will be reduced speed limits and they are recommending people don’t travel if they don’t have to. He cautioned that it may have to close again if the storms affect the highway.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said B.C. residents should be prepared for “three big pulses of storms” arriving, including one Thursday, another on the weekend, and the third and biggest on Tuesday.
“The time to prepare is now,” he said, during a news conference Thursday afternoon. “I urge all British Columbians to be vigilant.”
He said that includes storm-proofing homes, and clearing clutter and drainages. He urged people not to travel on the highways during these storms, but said those who need to travel should make sure their vehicle has water, blankets and foods.
—Tiffany Crawford
A director with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District says it could be years before some residents of Spences Bridge can return home after flooding and a mudslide hit the area.
Steven Rice, who is also a farmer from the small community southwest of Kamloops, says he and many other residents were forced to flee their properties with little more than the clothes on their backs.
He says the Nicola River, which runs along flood-damaged Highway 8, has changed course and left some farms underwater.
The flooding hit on Nov. 15, with a subsequent mudslide wiping out the highway and destroying or damaging dozens of properties in the area.
B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation did not return an immediate request for comment on an estimate on how long repairs to the highway would take.
Rice says the federal and provincial governments need to increase relief efforts and help winterize affected properties to ensure no more damage takes place.
Rice says the damage is particularly hard as many residents rely on farming and hunting to survive.
—The Canadian Press
10 a.m. – Tide provides free laundry services for people displaced by flooding
Tide and its partner, GlobalMedic are providing free, full-service laundry at Downtown McCleaners, located at 437 Seymour Street in Kamloops to help people displaced by floods.
They are also offering this service at at Tradex, located at 1190 Cornell Street in Abbotsford.
The Tide Loads of Hope services will allow those displaced by the floods, as well the disaster relief responders, to drop off their laundry to be washed, dried and folded, free of charge.
Staff expect to stay for about two to three weeks or until the immediate needs of the local population are met.
From #BCstorm flooding impacts to assessment to recovery – we’re collecting the transportation story in photos.
Check it out here: https://t.co/cjRfONjK4B#HopeBC #Malahat #Coquihalla #Lytton pic.twitter.com/GL9mD67LLY
A line of storms is forecast to sweep across British Columbia as the province works to rebuild from devastating flooding and deadly mudslides last week that destroyed parts of major highways, rail lines, and farmland.
Wind and rainfall warnings blanketed most of the B.C. coast and come after about a dozen so-called atmospheric rivers have saturated land in the province since September.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says even routine rainfall may cause already swollen rivers to rise to dangerous heights and he urged residents to prepare for evacuations and watch for updates.
He says the government is making headway on recovery since last week’s floods, with supply chains stabilizing, gas shortages starting to ease and some evacuees allowed to return to their homes.
The major arterial supply route of Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley was on track to reopen Thursday, while Canadian Pacific Railway announced the first trains have arrived in Vancouver from Kamloops carrying grain and fuel.
—The Canadian Press
Environment and Climate Change Canada has posted a rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver, including the North Shore, and the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound.
Up to 50 millimetres of rain is expected today and tonight over the southern sections of the region while the mountainous regions could see up to 80 millimetres.
The agency says southeast winds are also forecast near the water today, and adds the rain storm should ease tonight as the system moves out of the region.
This storm will be shorter lived and less intense than the event from Nov. 13 to Nov. 15, however, it will still bring moderate to heavy rain and strong winds, according to the agency.
The agency warned freezing levels will rise above mountain tops, and could worsen recent flooding and impact vulnerable landscapes and infrastructure.
Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
—Tiffany Crawford
Warnings are in effect as the next storm has arrived on the north coast. In the Fraser Valley 50-70mm of rain may fall by Friday(Nov.26/21) morning. This may worsen conditions in previously affected areas.
More heavy rain this weekend.
Warnings: https://t.co/PJB6lfNKdu#BCStorm pic.twitter.com/5D4Pn3DnWZ
Highway 1 is expected to reopen this afternoon, connecting motorists between Abbotsford and Chilliwack to the rest of the province.
“We’re pleased to report that some critical temporary repairs are now completed and water levels continue to recede,” said Transportation Minister Fleming at a Wednesday press conference.
The stretch of freeway through the Fraser Valley has been closed for nearly a week due to extreme flooding.
He noted that crews are currently clearing debris in the final stages before reopening. “We know that people in this region need to travel around, this will provide significant relief,” said Flemming.
— Sarah Grochowski
Abbotsford has upgraded a boil water advisory that was issued for the Sumas Prairie last week to a “Do Not Use Water Notice”, Mayor Henry Braun said Wednesday.
“It is being put in place due to continued uncontrollable water-main breaches that could allow surface water to enter the drinking water system,” Braun said.
The advisory is expected to be in place for several days and covers the area bound by Angus Campbell Drive in the west, Highway 1 to the north, the Chilliwack border to the east and Canada/US border to the south.
At this time water can only be used for flushing.
Braun said repairs to the dike system that cups the western edge of the Sumas Prairie was 90 per cent complete, as the region braces for another set of storms.
1:20 p.m. Highway 1 between expected to reopen Thursday
Highway 1 is expected to reopen tomorrow, connecting motorists between Abbotsford and Chilliwack to the rest of the province.
“We’re pleased to report that some critical temporary repairs are now completed and water levels continue to recede,” said Transportation Minister Fleming at a Wednesday press conference.
The stretch of freeway through the Fraser Valley has been closed for nearly a week due to extreme flooding.
He noted that crews are currently clearing debris in the final stages before reopening. “We know that people in this region need to travel around, this will provide significant relief,” said Flemming.
— Sarah Grochowski
1 p.m. – Province launches call line for people in need of flood-related information
The province has introduced a new resource to provide British Columbians with information on floods, both current and incoming.
The Service B.C. phone line will have operators equipped with knowledge of emergency mental health, agricultural and financial supports available as well as road conditions, said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. The number to call, 1-833-376-2452, is reachable seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
— Sarah Grochowski
Wind and rainfall warnings blanketed most of British Columbia’s coast on Wednesday as what Environment Canada calls a “parade” of storms was expected to sweep over areas of the province already struggling to recover from devastating flooding.
The alerts come as the number of people confirmed killed or missing in the floods rose to six, with the RCMP saying officers are investigating a report of a missing woman who was unable to leave a home on Highway 8 before it was washed away last week. Four bodies have been recovered from a mudslide along Highway 99 near Lillooet and one man is still missing.
The centre that monitors the province’s waterways said several atmospheric rivers will drench B.C., dropping up to 70 millimetres of rain over the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, by Thursday and even more over Vancouver’s North Shore mountains.
The statement from the River Forecast Centre said another storm will arrive Saturday and “additional storms are expected early next week,” although the amount and severity of rainfall is still being determined.
The centre issued high streamflow advisories for waterways along the entire length of B.C.’s coast and was maintaining a flood warning for the Sumas River and Sumas Prairie around Abbotsford. It said rivers were expected to rise on Thursday with the potentially highest flows expected around the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and North Shore corridor.
Rivers in the Fraser Valley would rise by amounts similar to typical fall storms but could be “more problematic due to flood response and recovery efforts and damaged infrastructure in the region,” it said.
— The Canadian Press
B.C. Hydro is gearing up for the upcoming storm even as it works to repair damaged infrastructure from the last storm.
The atmospheric river that hit B.C. on Nov. 13 to 15 caused power outages to more than 258,000 people in the province, said B.C. Hydro president Chris O’Riley in a statement.
“B.C. Hydro crews continue to assess the damage from the last week’s storms. Costs are expected be in the millions and we are gearing up for more extreme weather.”
Crews have restored power to all customers who were impacted by power outages last week, except for households still under evacuation order.
The storm also caused record high inflows into hydro reservoirs, which are already full ahead of the coming rain.
Staff are monitoring water levels and are “proactively releasing water from some reservoirs to create space,” said the power company.
Crews are also continuing to repair infrastructure damaged by heavy wind, landslides and flooding across the province. The damage is significant. As one example, along Highway 9, crews need to replace 87 power poles and 14 transformers.
B.C. Hydro is reminding people to stay away from rivers as flows can change rapidly, be prepared for power outages, and keep their distance from fallen power lines.
Don’t forget to add a list of important phone numbers in your outage plan and emergency kit. Here are more tips to stay safe during a power outage: https://t.co/DXcK6BfpSr #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/sCAXNw3pDJ
— Cheryl Chan
Dozens of animals displaced by flooding have been temporarily turned over to the care of the B.C. SPCA.
There are about 55 animals needing emergency boarding at SPCA facilities right now with more requests pouring in, said spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk on Wednesday.
The non-profit organization offers free temporary boarding for pets who have been displaced by natural disasters, including the floods that have hit parts of the Fraser Valley and B.C. Interior.
“We are offering boarding for as long as people need it,” said Chortyk. “They can come visit their pets anytime. People are just going through so much and we want to provide any support we can.”
Many of the animals are coming in to the SPCA’s Lower Mainland shelters from families affected by the Abbotsford flood and to the Kamloops shelter, which is serving evacuees from Merritt.
In order to free up space to house as many animals requiring temporary boarding, the SPCA is holding a half-price adoption promotion until Dec. 8.
The promotion applies to all animals across the province, with the exception of SPCA branches in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii and 100 Mile House.
Adoption fees range from $10 to $300 depending on location and type of animals. The fees help offset the cost of care of the animals turned into the shelter. To adopt, visit the B.C. SPCA website .
The SPCA is also handing out free crates, pet food, leashes and other supplies through Emergency Support Services (ESS) centres. Anyone who needs support or animal rescue can call the SPCA call centre at 1-855-622-7722.
— Cheryl Chan
7 a.m. – Another storm to hit B.C., bringing more rain to flood-ravaged communities
British Columbia is bracing for more rain this week even as thousands of residents hard hit by last week’s storm remain out of their homes.
Environment Canada said another atmospheric river is expected to hit the B.C. south coast Wednesday night, dumping up to 80 millimetres of rain.
It has issued a rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound, saying a new round of heavy rain is on the way.
“The next nine or 10 days could be quite challenging,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth at a news conference Tuesday, asking residents to pay close attention to the weather forecasts.
The rain is expected to arrive Wednesday night, with the heaviest precipitation falling on Thursday before easing later that night.
Some sections of Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound will get up to 80 mm of rain by Thursday night, while the Fraser Valley will see 50 to 70 mm by Friday morning.
Freezing levels will rise to above mountain tops on Thursday, which could trigger snowmelt and worsen recent flooding, said the weather agency.
This storm is not expected to be as intense as the atmospheric river on Nov. 13 to 15 that brought a heavy deluge that triggered landslides and flooding and forced evacuations in the Fraser Valley and the Interior.
Environment Canada also warned of potential heavy snowfall on the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler.
Up to 15 cm of heavy wet snow could fall on the highway starting Wednesday night. That snow will turn to rain Thursday when freezing levels rise.
The weather agency said there are uncertainties around the precipitation amounts, and warned drivers to monitor forecasts at DriveBC and be prepared for potentially hazardous driving conditions on mountain roads.
1/ #BC: potential flooding & landslides are possible due to heavy rain that’s forecast. #GetPrepared, & ensure you have your #EmergencyKit & important documents close by. Be ready to evacuate if you need to. More on what to do before a #flood: https://t.co/in0eapCFlo pic.twitter.com/6V3MORKBQj
— Cheryl Chan
Tiffany de Leeuw says her in-laws realized the gravity of the disaster facing their farm on the Sumas Prairie when a field flooded in 30 minutes.
She said her father-in-law and brother-in-law quickly set out with cattle trailers on the first day of the flooding to save animals boarding on the property while other relatives worked to build dikes to protect their third-generation farm.
But de Leeuw said her father-in-law admitted defeat in trying to save the farm by a text message a short while later.
“We turned the hydro off. We lost,” she said he wrote in the text.
The property is primarily used for feed storage, growing crops and raising livestock, with others renting parts of it to run their own businesses.
“It was devastating watching my family lose their homes and livelihoods and basically just stand there in shock like ‘What just hit us?”‘ de Leeuw said on Tuesday. “Last week was just horrible.”
The farm is one of hundreds damaged or destroyed by flooding last week in the low-lying Sumas Prairie region of Abbotsford. The area is home to much of B.C.’s agricultural production.
It was one of the hardest hit parts of the province by storms that dumped an unprecedented amount of rain, triggering evacuations and mudslides that cut off highways.
— The Canadian Press
George Petersen is a big, strong guy. But the Fraser Valley flood has left him utterly exhausted.
For a week, he’s been cleaning up a massive mess left from flood waters that inundated his property on rural Arnold Road in Abbotsford.
It’s a 24-hour job — he’s been sleeping in his puffy grey jacket in his truck on his property.
“I’ve been standing on guard all night,” he said. “Every hour and 20 minutes, I’ve got to put gas in the pumps to keep the water out, and I sleep in my truck so no one loots us.”
Petersen has set up a giant pump that he’s paying for himself to try to drain the water in the neighbourhood before the next rainstorm.
“The city hasn’t been able to help us,” Petersen said Monday afternoon. “It’s all flooded out here, because it’s all backed up. The city hasn’t been out. They’ve tried but they can’t get (ditches) unplugged. So I went and got a big six-inch diesel pump, and it’s now pumping all of Arnold.
He shook his head. Standing on the grounds of a nearby church that has become an impromptu garbage dump, he answered questions stoically, as if he’s completely drained.
“We’ve got no help,” said Petersen, who owns an excavation and landscaping company. “You think they would drop (portable) toilets here and stuff. We don’t even have a washroom. Everybody’s struggling. I feel like the city’s really shit the bed here.”
His losses might be half a million dollars, maybe more.
Read more HERE .
— John Mackie
Close to $12 million in grants will be available to people forced out of their homes due to the unprecedented mid-November storm, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said Tuesday.
The $2,000 a household would be available to occupants of 5,725 homes evacuated Nov. 14-16 — primarily in Merritt, Abbotsford and Princeton — after an atmospheric river dumped heavy across the province’s southwest.
The grant amount will not vary according to the size of an evacuated household.
When Farnworth announced a provincial state of emergency on Nov. 17, he said that 17,775 people had been evacuated, including the whole city of Merritt with 7,000 people.
As of Tuesday night, there are 3,792 homes still under evacuation order in the southwest B.C. region and 415 in the central region, that includes Lillooet.
In a statement, Red Cross Canada said the money would come half from the provincial government and half from people who donated to the organization’s B.C. flooding and extreme weather appeal.
The grant will not affect other supports through the provincial Emergency Support Services program. That program is funded through Emergency Management B.C. and provides short-term help to people hit by disaster.
Farnworth said that money would also be made available for students at Nicola Valley Institute and the University of the Fraser Valley affected by floods, through a separate program.
— David Carrigg
A refinery that supplies an estimated one-third of the gas to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island said Tuesday it has stopped processing operations because it had run out of crude oil due to the Trans Mountain pipeline shutdown after last week’s catastrophic flooding.
Calgary-based Parkland Corp.’s Burnaby refinery is now in “standby mode,” so that it can resume processing quickly once new shipments of crude arrive via the pipeline or rail.
“Parkland maintains some crude-oil storage on-site, so up until today, it has been able to continue operations,” said Kent Fellows, a professor at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
He said there is storage of crude oil as well as gasoline and diesel in the Lower Mainland that can be relied upon in the short run, but he hasn’t been able to find data on how much storage there is or how full it was before the flooding.
Three of the main ways gas is supplied to the Lower Mainland and elsewhere in B.C. were disrupted by the flooding.
“Trans Mountain would also normally be shipping about 27,000 barrels per day of gasoline and diesel from refineries near Edmonton to the Lower Mainland in B.C.,” said Fellows.
U.S. imports are still running, but they usually only account for 12 per cent of the total gas supply, an estimate Fellows based on his analysis of information from a recent B.C. Utilities Commission report. It’s a much smaller base amount even as there are reports of barges with gasoline heading to B.C. from the U.S.
Read more HERE .
— Joanne Lee-Young
The federal minister of emergency preparedness says border guards have been advised that British Columbia residents can cross into the United States for essential supplies because of flooding in the province after some were reportedly facing fines or told they would have to quarantine on returning to Canada.
Bill Blair said Tuesday the circumstances of those who received tickets for allegedly violating quarantine restrictions is also being reviewed by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Ottawa approved an exemption from the B.C. government for travellers from specific areas along its south coast to travel to the U.S. to purchase gas or essential supplies and immediately return to Canada without providing a negative PCR test for the virus that causes COVID-19.
A statement from the Canada Border Services Agency says there can be a transition period that “may lead to some inconsistencies” when operational guidelines are changed.
Denis Vinette, vice-president of the travellers branch and COVID task force at the agency, said “a couple dozen” individuals were fined during a 24-hour period, although he did not have an exact number.
Vinette confirmed individuals crossing the border for essentials are no longer being referred for a fine.
The Public Health Agency of Canada said in a statement Tuesday that they reviewed 30 tickets that had been issued in the region over a 24-hour period and have rescinded 16 of them, saying 14 were duly issued Monday.
“PHAC continues to review all tickets issued since the beginning of the emergency situation in B.C. to ensure that PHAC officers used their full discretion when deciding the best instrument to enforce the Quarantine Act,” the statement said.
The agency said travellers who received a ticket but believe their circumstances warranted the use of an emergency exemption are advised to contest it.
Click here for B.C. flood updates from before Tuesday, Nov. 23.
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