Flood warning issued for Fraser Valley as evacuation alerts expand

December 10, 2025

RED FM News Desk

A flood warning has been issued for parts of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, and residents are being urged to prepare grab-and-go bags in case further evacuations become necessary.

The Fraser Valley Regional District has declared a local state of emergency, ordering residents of eight properties in the Chilliwack River Valley to evacuate and placing 12 more properties on evacuation alert as of Wednesday afternoon.

Soon after, provincial officials provided an update on conditions in the most affected areas of the Lower Mainland and outlined the steps being taken in response.

“We are in a very dynamic situation, and people and communities must prepare for potential flooding, particularly in low-lying areas,” said Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Kelly Greene, emphasizing that a flood warning is the River Forecast Centre’s highest alert level.

The warning covers the eastern Fraser Valley, with the Chilliwack and Sumas rivers identified as key areas of concern, largely due to the risk of water flowing in from the Nooksack River in Washington State, Greene explained.

Officials in Whatcom County have issued their own flood warning for the Nooksack River, which has been rising rapidly amid heavy rain.

David Campbell, head of B.C.’s River Forecast Centre, said the Nooksack was nearing overflow levels at 2 p.m. Wednesday, and water is expected to start crossing into Canada within hours.

Although he said flooding on the scale of the catastrophic November 2021 event is unlikely, Campbell noted it remains “a possible scenario” depending on how much rain arrives with the coming atmospheric rivers.

Greene acknowledged the stress felt by communities that are still recovering from recent devastating floods.

“I want to acknowledge that these communities have been here before and are still recovering,” she said. “While we don’t yet know exactly what today and the days ahead will bring, the province is preparing for all eventualities.”

Just after 4 p.m., the City of Abbotsford issued an evacuation alert for Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village, noting that those at highest risk would receive hand-delivered notices from emergency crews.