Severe rainfall from a powerful atmospheric river has forced British Columbia to shut down most highway access between the Lower Mainland and the Interior, creating widespread travel disruptions and heightening concern in flood prone regions. The road closures were announced Wednesday evening during an emergency update from Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene, who warned that conditions were evolving quickly across the province.
Greene told Global News that travel between the Lower Mainland and the Interior was closed at this time, and she cautioned residents that further shutdowns could be issued with little or no warning. Multiple flood watches, advisories and warnings remain in effect, and emergency officials emphasized that non essential travel should be avoided to keep routes clear for evacuations. A small update came early Thursday when DriveBC reported that Highway 1 between Lytton and Yale had reopened, although most major routes remain fully closed.
The province’s advisory lists significant disruptions across the transportation network. Highway 1 is shut eastbound at Highway 9 and again between Hope and Lytton. Highways 3 and 5 are closed from Hope to Princeton and Hope to Merritt. Highway 7 is blocked west of Hope between Highway 9 and Ross Road, while Highway 11 at the Sumas border crossing is open only to local traffic. Highway 99 is closed between Mount Currie and Lillooet. Officials say there is no timeline for reopening these roads and warn that additional closures are possible.
Emergency teams are also tracking rising water levels linked to the Nooksack River in Washington state. According to Connie Chapman, executive director of water management, the river is expected to continue spilling over its banks into early Thursday. She told Global News that the current volumes resemble those seen during the 2021 disaster that caused billions of dollars in damage across the Fraser Valley. Rainfall has begun to ease, but water movement through the watershed continues to pose significant risk.
Abbotsford has declared a local state of emergency as the situation intensifies. The city issued evacuation alerts for about one thousand properties in Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village on Wednesday afternoon, followed by mandatory evacuation orders for three hundred and seventy one properties later that night. Evacuation alerts also remain active for Sumas Prairie East and the remainder of Sumas Prairie West. The city said its direction is based on modelling that predicts the Nooksack River will reach major flood stage, with floodwaters expected to arrive near the border early Thursday.
A reception centre has been established at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre to support residents forced from their homes. City officials urged affected households to prepare grab and go bags and monitor ongoing updates. Mayor Ross Siemens said the community is in a much better position than it was during previous flood emergencies. Nearby regions are taking similar precautions. The Fraser Valley Regional District has declared a local state of emergency and issued evacuation orders for ten properties near the Chilliwack River, with additional households under alert and advised to be ready to leave quickly.
