Another atmospheric river is on the way for the coastal areas of B.C. and the Fraser Valley, with rain expected to start late Saturday and continue through the week.
Vancouver Island, the North Coast, and areas of the Central and South Coast are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall on late Sunday into early Tuesday, according to Environment Canada.
Enviroment Canada issued a high stream advisory Saturday (Dec. 13) for North Coast including Kitimat, Prince Rupert and surrounding areas, Central Coast including the Kingcome River, South Coast including the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and Sea-to-Sky, Lower Fraser tributaries including the Lillooet River and tributaries around Pemberton, the Fraser Valley, Fraser Canyon, and North Shore Mountains, Vancouver Island.
“Active weather over the next seven to ten days is expected to create a prolonged period of heightened flood hazard across the BC coast. Heavy rain on Sunday and Monday are expected to lead to high streamflow on Monday and into Tuesday. Increased hazard in areas impacted by last week’s storms can be expected,” said the advisory.
Environment Canada is maintaining its flood warning for Sumas, due to the ongoing flooding in the area.
“Environment and Climate Change Canada have issued a Special Weather Statement for the Fraser Valley, highlighting concerns for the weather pattern and increased vulnerability on the landscape to severe weather given recent rainfall, ground saturation and current flooding,” noted the warning.
“Forecasts from the Northwest River Forecast Center for the Nooksack River are not currently indicating a potential for another overflow event into the Sumas River. Local inflow into the Sumas River is expected to increase from Sunday through Tuesday, with the potential for slowing of floodwater retreat, and the potential for additional rises in levels along the Sumas River. Ground saturation across the watershed can lead to increased surface runoff and increased vulnerability of the landscape to this rainfall event.”
As the City of Abbotsford and the area attempt to recover from this week’s storm, some major highways and side roads are still closed due to flooding.
Highway 1 is still closed from Whatcom Road to No. 3 Road Saturday morning (Dec. 13) and there is currently “no way through no way through Abbotsford to Chilliwack or eastern parts of the province,” according to the City of Abbotsford.
For updates on Chilliwack visit, chilliwack.com/floodwatch and Abbotsford visit, abbotsford.ca/alerts/flood-update-community. Traffic updates will be posted on drivebc.ca.