UPDATED: Highway 1 closed between Sumas Way and No. 3 road

Update — 8:16pm (Dec 11): Highway 1 is now closed between Sumas Way and No. 3 Road due to floodwater on the roadway, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit. The City of Abbotsford has also expanded its Evacuation Orders to include seven additional properties north of Highway 1, including the Clarion Hotel (36035 N. Parallel Road), the Ministry of Agriculture and Foods building, and several addresses along North Parallel Road, Whatcom Road, Delair Road, and Delair Park.

An evacuation order remains in place for 371 properties in Sumas Prairie West, while 1,069 properties in Sumas Prairie East and West remain under Evacuation Alert. Fire Rescue Services and Abbotsford Police are in the affected areas notifying residents and assisting with evacuations.

Residents are urged to stay away from waterways and avoid driving across flooded roads or bridges. An interactive map of all alerts and orders is available on the City’s website.

Update — 11:09am (Dec 11): According to the City of Abbotsford, floodwaters from the Nooksack River have now crossed into Abbotsford, prompting new evacuation orders for 82 properties in Huntingdon Village, up to 2nd Avenue and Sumas Way. An evacuation order remains in place for 371 properties in Sumas Prairie West, while 1,069 properties across Sumas Prairie East and West remain under Evacuation Alert. The alert for Clayburn Village has been lifted.

City officials say the Nooksack River reached major flood stage and peaked at 3am at the North Cedarville gauge. Based on the latest data, the flood is currently tracking similarly to the 1990 event—less severe than 2021. Crews were out overnight door-knocking properties under order, while 15 families stayed at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre’s Reception Centre. That facility remains open for anyone under evacuation.

Farmers have worked through the night to move livestock; 165 farming operations are within the evacuation area, including 66 under order. A landslide on the southeast corner of Sumas Prairie is affecting one property and the SRY rail line.

Officials also warned that a fake 2021 evacuation order circulating online is causing confusion; residents should rely only on updates at abbotsford.ca, where an interactive evacuation map is available. Sand and sandbags are available at Albert Dyck Park (31515 Walmsley Ave).

Update — 11:03pm: The City of Abbotsford has declared a State of Local Emergency and issued an evacuation order for 371 properties in Sumas Prairie West due to rising flood risk. Residents in the order area must leave immediately. Evacuation alerts now also cover Sumas Prairie East, and remain in place for the rest of Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village.

Officials say modelling from the Province of BC and Whatcom County shows the Nooksack River is expected to crest near the U.S. NOAA major flood stage, with floodwater projected to reach the border in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 11.

A Reception Centre has been opened at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre (2499 McMillan Road). Residents under evacuation order are asked to check in within 24 hours, either in person or online. An interactive map showing all current alerts and orders is available on the City’s website.

The Ministry of Transportation has issued a travel advisory for the Fraser Valley urging no unnecessary travel. Highway 11 at the Sumas border crossing is closed to commercial traffic, and Highway 1 and other routes may close with little or no warning.

Update — 5:41pm: The City of Abbotsford has issued an evacuation alert for 940 properties in Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village. Mayor Ross Siemens – in a video update – said the Emergency Operations Centre is fully staffed and that the city is “in a much better place than in 2021.” In the video update, Fire Chief Eric Peterson said the Nooksack River is expected to overtop its banks this afternoon, with overflow water reaching Abbotsford roughly seven hours later. Officials expect flooding to be worse than 2020 but not as severe as the 2021 event, though conditions may change.

Updated 2:29pm: A Flood Watch for the eastern Fraser Valley has been upgraded to a Flood Warning, with officials urging residents to stay clear of fast-moving rivers and watch for rapidly rising water.

The BC River Forecast Centre issued the warning for Fraser Valley East at 10am Wednesday, Dec. 10. A warning means river levels are expected to exceed their banks, leading to flooding in low-lying areas. The City of Abbotsford says the current heavy rain has already caused localized flooding in low-lying areas.

At 11:08am, Environment Canada followed with an orange rainfall warning for the region. Forecasters say an atmospheric river over the South Coast is expected to dump 90 to 130 millimetres of rain from now through late this evening on:

• Fraser Valley – central including Chilliwack

• Fraser Valley – east including Hope, Hope Slide, and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton (western sections)

Warm air with the system will raise freezing levels. Combined with snowmelt, saturated ground, and heavy rain, that’s expected to drive high streamflows and localized flooding. Visibility on roads may drop suddenly in heavy downpours, and some routes could become impassable.

Abbotsford impact and Nooksack monitoring

Abbotsford officials say this weather event is currently expected to be similar to the February 2020 Nooksack overflow. The city is in regular contact with Whatcom County to monitor the Nooksack River.

If the Nooksack overtops its banks, overland flow from the U.S. could reach Abbotsford about seven hours later, potentially affecting sections of Vye, Boundary, and Angus Campbell roads near the Canada–U.S. border.

The City of Abbotsford has activated its Emergency Operations Centre and says staff are monitoring river levels, snowmelt, and dikes around the clock. Staff are stationed 24/7 at Barrowtown Pump Station and throughout the community. Road closures are being prepared at low spots; Clayburn Road is already closed between Highway 11 and Wright Street.

What residents should do

During a flood warning, provincial and local officials recommend people:

• Stay clear of fast-flowing rivers, streams, and unstable riverbanks

• Avoid walking near river edges, ditches, or fast-moving water

• Avoid driving through flooded roadways or across water-covered bridges

• Clear storm drains and gutters of leaves and debris to help prevent water buildup

• Check your local government or First Nation website for community-specific updates and any evacuation alerts or sandbag locations

In Abbotsford, sand and sandbags are available outside the City Public Works Yard at 31739 King Road.

City crews are out clearing catch basins and monitoring local conditions. Residents can report clogged storm drains, localized flooding, flooded roadways, or overflowing ditches by calling 604-853-5485 during the day or 604-864-5552 after hours, or by using the Abbotsford app.

Residents are asked to continue monitoring alerts from Environment Canada and the BC River Forecast Centre and to report severe weather using the hashtag #BCStorm on X or by emailing [email protected].

For the latest official updates, subscribe to receive Environment Canada alerts and visit the Emergency Info BC flood event page.