Heavy rain is expected to continue for parts of the Fraser Valley on Monday (Dec. 15) after a reprieve helped floodwaters recede over the weekend.
An orange rainfall warning from Environment Canada remains in effect for Fraser Valley west and east, which includes Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
Amounts between 40 to 60 mm are forecasted, with 80 mm expected over higher terrain.
“Localized flooding is likely. Some roads may become impassable. Travel delays and/or cancellations are likely. Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas such as steep slopes, deforested areas or recent burn scars,” Environment Canada said.
A flood warning is also in effect for the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers while a flood watch is in effect for the Lower Fraser and tributaries, including tributaries around the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon.
Semá:th Elementary remains closed on Monday, but all other Abbotsford schools are open.
Highway 1 between No. 3 Road and Sumas Way reopened to traffic in both directions on Sunday. However, the Ministry of Transportation announced two precautionary overnight closures of main routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior, in response to the potential for rockfall and debris slides along both routes.
Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon between the Hope Junction and Lytton, as well as Highway 99 east of Pemberton, between Mt. Currie and Lillooet, remain closed as of 7 a.m. on Monday.
The City of Abbotsford downgraded evacuation orders for 248 Sumas Prairie properties on Sunday (Dec. 14) but maintained evacuation alerts due to the flood warning and heavy rain.
“Residents on Evacuation Alert should remain prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice, should conditions change,” the City of Abbotsford said.
Evacuation orders remain in place for 77 properties and 408 properties remain under Evacuation Alert, the city said. An interactive map allows residents to search the status of all properties in the evacuation area by address, indicating whether they are under Order or Alert.
City of Chilliwack said there will be single-lane alternating traffic on Keith Wilson Road from Boundary Road to Chadsey Road from 9:30 am to 4:30 p.m. today due to urgent work to dislodge debris from the Keith Wilson Bridge because of the recent weather event.
The B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness encouraged residents to have an emergency plan, avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert to changing conditions.
The FVRD Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) continues to operate, with staff responding and working with partner agencies to address a variety of issues throughout the region.
“Residents are reminded to stay away from high-risk areas, such as landslides, dikes, and flooded areas. Not only are the dangers in these areas extremely high, but when residents enter these areas, it puts everyone at risk, including our first responders,” FVRD said.
The Evacuation order and alert for the area of Electoral Area E – Wilson Road issued on Dec. 10 is still in effect, FVRD said on Sunday.
Sandbags are available for impacted residents at the Chilliwack River Valley Firehall, at the Hunter Creek Exit in Laidlaw, and behind the Sasquatch Inn in Harrison Mills.