Friday - Dec 19 - Abbotsford alerts lifted

🌧 High 2°C

Good morning.

There’s some welcome news to share today. The City of Abbotsford says all remaining Evacuation Alerts have now been rescinded, and the community is officially transitioning from flood response to recovery as river levels continue to drop.

In this issue, we’ve outlined what that shift means—from debris pickup plans and road updates in Sumas Prairie to the launch of a new Emergency Status Map across the Fraser Valley. We’re also tracking other developments from around the region as cleanup continues and communities assess the impacts of the past week’s severe weather.

As always, we’ll keep sharing clear, verified updates as recovery moves forward.

– The FVC team

Keep local journalism alive by supporting The Current. Become a Current Insider member today and help bring local stories to life.

Traffic & Weather

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope | Mission

🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.

🛣 Click here for links to road cameras across the Fraser Valley, including those for the Coquihalla, Highway 7, Hope-Princeton, Fraser Canyon, and Highway 1 in Langley and Abbotsford.

Need to know

Evacuation Alerts lifted as Abbotsford shifts to flood recovery

The City of Abbotsford says it has rescinded all remaining Evacuation Alerts and is transitioning from flood response to recovery as water levels on the Sumas and Nooksack rivers continue to drop and the flood watch has ended. Residents returning home are encouraged to consult their insurer and check the City’s “Return Home” page for updated guidance and support resources.

🗑️ Flood debris pickup this weekend — The City will provide curbside collection of flood-damaged items and debris on Dec. 20–21, with possible additional dates if needed. Items must be non-hazardous, bagged if loose, and placed at the curb by 7 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 20). Hazardous materials will be collected later.

🚧 Road update — All roads in Sumas Prairie have reopened, with repairs still underway on South Parallel Road west of Whatcom Road. The Emergency Operations Centre remains active through the recovery phase, with updates posted on Abbotsford’s website.

🗺️ New Emergency Status Map launches across the Fraser Valley — The Fraser Valley Regional District has launched a new online Emergency Status Map to help residents and first responders report incidents during emergencies, including flooding linked to recent atmospheric river events. The tool allows users to share details and photos, creating a real-time snapshot of issues across the region that FVRD staff will review and route for follow-up.

📱 How it works — The map can be used on a phone or computer and is designed to be quick and easy to use. Incidents submitted are assessed by FVRD staff to determine responsibility and next steps. A step-by-step video guide is also available for anyone needing help submitting a report.

☎️ Need help or prefer to call? — Residents can contact the FVRD EOC Public Information Line at 778-704-0400 while the Emergency Operations Centre is active. The line records messages outside business hours.

In Other News

🏔️ Hope residents raised concerns that flooding on Kettle Valley Road was exacerbated by Hope Ready Mix's gravel pit operation, though owner Jake Klaassen denied this and attributed the Dec. 10 flooding to overwhelmed city ditches. [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

🎁 The Langley Christmas Bureau is calling for donations to close a $75,000 gap needed to provide holiday essentials to hundreds of families and thousands of children this season. [Langley Christmas Bureau]

🫐 UFV research confirmed that cranberry crops produce substantially lower yields as temperatures rise, with all six tested varieties producing fewer berries in conditions simulating a 2°C temperature increase. [UFV Today]

🌡️ Southern B.C. saw record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday while wind gusts reached 119 km/h at Race Rock, the Lower Mainland received up to 70 millimetres of rain, and the Coquihalla got 43 millimetres of snow. [Hope Standard]

🌧️ Chilliwack experienced landslides, localized flooding, and road closures after back-to-back rainstorms dropped over 300 millimetres of rain from Dec. 9-16, with Vedder Mountain Road closed Wednesday after a debris slide. [Chilliwack Progress]

Enjoying our newsletter? Help us make it even better!

Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Fraser Valley.

In The Valley

Updated weekly: Your guide to Fraser Valley holiday events

Holiday magic is happening all across the Fraser Valley this season. From tree lighting ceremonies and festive markets to concerts, parades, and family-friendly celebrations, there's no shortage of ways to embrace the spirit of the season. We've just updated this list with even more events—check out the new additions and keep sending us your community happenings to include!

What’s coming up →

Community journalism needs the entire community for it to succeed.

Become a Current member today and join 1,400+ other local supporters who help keep our lights on.

As part of a membership, you get our special weekend roundup of all the things you might’ve missed each week!

SPONSORED BY CITY OF ABBOTSFORD

Update from Abbotsford City Council

Check out some of the important work being done by Abbotsford City Council in the latest update of Your Council in the Community.

🗓 Things to do

Carols, Cans, Cash & Cookies: A fundraising event for Abbotsford Food Bank on Saturday, December 21 at 7:00 PM at Highland Community Church (3130 McMillan Rd, Abbotsford) featuring Christmas carol singing, cookies, coffee, and cider, with food and monetary donations supporting the food bank.

Christmas at Tanglebank: A boutique holiday light experience running through Monday, December 23 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Tanglebank Estate (29985 Downes Rd, Abbotsford) features artfully decorated trees, festive photo opportunities, holiday movies, and a 32-foot Christmas tree, with tickets valid for one vehicle up to eight guests.

Live Fireside Music: Gather around fire pits at Greendale Acres on December 20-23 with live music, hot drinks, and Christmas treats, with performances from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM nightly under the covered pavilion.

Have an event to tell us about? Fill out this form to have it highlighted here.

Catch up

That’s it!

Thanks for reading Fraser Valley Current today ♥️ 

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another local.

Help share The Current

Wouldn’t the Fraser Valley be better if more people had access to local, quality news – and didn’t have to rely on social media? Share The Current with your friends and help us build better communities.