B.C. officials warn of more widespread rain on the way after floods, highway closure

Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue says flooding near the Sumas River is contained but warns residents to evacuate if ordered

British Columbia is preparing for another widespread deluge of rain after flooding through the province’s Fraser Valley temporarily shutdown a portion of Highway 1 last week.

Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said Sunday that flood and landslide risks in parts of the province will increase with more stormy weather in the forecast, even as floodwaters receded in Abbotsford after heavy rains last week.

“We aren’t through this yet,” Greene said during an update alongside other provincial officials. “While road conditions are currently improving, they may change quickly due to flooding.”

Environment Canada issued several rainfall warnings across B.C., including for the Fraser Valley, forecasting up to 80 millimetres of rain in some areas where localized flooding is “likely.”

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said 56 farms remain under evacuation order, with 13 on alert, as flooded barns led to deaths of chickens on some affected poultry farms.

Connie Chapman with the province’s water management branch said Sunday that flood warnings remain for the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers, and high stream flow advisories in several other parts of B.C. including Haida Gwaii, the north, central and south coast and on Vancouver Island.

“We do know that the precipitation amounts going to fall are going to land differently than what we saw last week,” Chapman said. “How that’s fully going to play out ... is a little uncertain.

She said the forecast is “less intense” than last week, but officials are still concerned about areas impacted by flooding being hit again.

Abbotsford fire chief Erick Peterson said Sunday that the city is hoping to lift remaining evacuation orders for more than 300 properties in the Sumas Prairie, as floodwaters in the city recede.

Peterson said the city is still maintaining an up-to-date map of affected properties online, and he’s happy to see that damage assessments have shown most evacuated homes have been deemed safe to re-enter.

He said drivers should still avoid floodwaters in evacuated areas.

Environment Canada put rainfall warnings in place across British Columbia’s flood-drenched Fraser Valley as another wave of soaking weather hits the region.

Environment Canada said the valley, including Abbotsford, which was inundated by cross-border flooding last week, can expect the new system to bring “significant rain” of up to 80 millimetres with the heaviest downpours expected Monday.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens said it won’t be easy for many residents to return to their homes and farms, especially for those still under evacuation in the Sumas Prairie.

He said the city’s emergency operations centre is still active, and will “continue to closely monitor” river levels and the weather in the coming days.

Siemens said he’s happy that the highway was reopened, as it’s a “welcome relief” for the city after its closure cut off the community from the eastern parts of B.C.

The B.C. government said Sunday that Highway 1 out of Abbotsford was reopened in both directions, but officials said there could be “short notice” closures on some stretches due to flood risk on Highway 5, the Coquihalla Highway, Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon, and Highway 99 from Cache Creek to Pemberton.

The Transportation Ministry said that one eastbound lane opened Sunday morning and both westbound lanes on the highway through Abbotsford reopened Saturday night.

The ministry said in a statement that drivers should expect congestion and slower speeds moving eastbound and should give themselves more time to get where they’re going.

It said the highway is still “vulnerable” after heavy rains caused flooding in Abbotsford, closing side roads and the highway before floodwaters began receding.

The ministry said it’s still monitoring the weather situation before reopening the second eastbound lane, and warned that the highway could again be closed at “any time” should conditions change.

The City of Abbotsford said in a statement that the flooding situation has notably improved as floodwaters are “gradually” receding, but overflow from the Nooksack River in Washington State continues.

Abbotsford said it lifted evacuation alerts and downgraded evacuation orders placed on hundreds of properties Saturday night as city staff survey the damage from the flooding.

While many evacuation alerts were rescinded in Abbotsford on Saturday, the forecast calls for the rain to continue until Monday evening, with warnings also up for Metro Vancouver and elsewhere.

Some evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation alerts Sunday, including 248 properties in Sumas Prairie allowing some residents to return home, but evacuation orders remain in place for 77 properties, with 408 properties still under alert.

Officials in Chilliwack have warned that local rivers are expected to swell, which may cause localized flooding, but not as much as earlier in the week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2025.