New evacuation order issued as southern BC, ravaged by floods, hit by fresh storms

A new evacuation order has been issued in southern British Columbia as another atmospheric river permeates the province, exacerbating the effects of extensive flooding and mudslides.

The rain will continue to fall until Sunday afternoon, according to Environment Canada, which broadcast a precipitation warning for most of the southwestern BC. Up to 120 millimeters of rain is expected in the region.

The new evacuation order was issued per Huntingdon Village area of Abbotsford, southeast of Metro Vancouver, in the Fraser Valley.

The order was issued at 03.15 PT. It covers residents within the following boundaries:

• Sumas road to the west.

• A Street and 2nd Avenue to the east.

• Farm road to the north.

• The U.S. border to the south.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said on Sunday that flooding from across the border in the state of Washington came into the area, consisting of precipitation and snowmelt from nearby Mount Baker.

“All that snow is melting and contributing and increasing the rainfall, which has been heavy all night,” he said.

“There is nowhere else for this water to go. The country has absorbed it – it’s like a sponge and it’s full.”

Braun said the water entering the city did not come from the Nooksack River on the other side of the border.

There were fears the river could break its dikes and flow toward Fraser Valley, but Braun said the city would not know until Sunday afternoon. The river was expected to reach one the stage of “moderate flooding”. then based on a Saturday forecast.

The Nooksack River, which flows from Washington State to British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, is expected to be in a “moderate flood” stage Sunday afternoon. Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said floods currently causing evacuation orders were not from the river. (Whatcom County Government / Twitter)

The Fraser Valley region has been under flood guard since Friday, like most of southwestern BC, including regions on Vancouver Island.

High flow advice was also issued by the River Forecast Center for Upper Columbia and the East Kootenay regions of the interior.

Regions in southern India and low-lying areas north of Pemberton, BC, was put on evacuation preparedness Saturday afternoon when a flood guard was issued for the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers.

Evacuation warnings mean residents must be ready to leave their homes with a moment’s notice. Evacuation orders mean residents must leave the site immediately.

---

Anyone placed on an evacuation order should leave the area immediately.

To find an evacuation center near you, visit emergency management BC website.

Evacuated are encouraged to sign up Emergency services online, whether or not they have access to services at an evacuation center.

Road conditions can be checked at DriveBC.