Highway 1 out of Abbotsford reopened, flood evacuation orders may be lifted

ABBOTSFORD – Abbotsford fire chief Erick Peterson says the city is hoping to lift remaining evacuation orders for more than 300 properties in the Sumas Prairie today, as floodwaters in the city recede. 

Peterson says the city is still maintaining an up-to-date map of affected properties online, and he’s happy to see that damage assessments have shown most evacuated homes have been deemed to safe to re-enter. 

Peterson says drivers should still avoid floodwaters in evacuated areas. 

Environment Canada says rainfall warnings are in place across British Columbia’s flood-drenched Fraser Valley as another wave of soaking weather hits the region.

Environment Canada says the valley, including Abbotsford, which was inundated by cross-border flooding last week, can expect the new system to bring “significant rain” of up to 80 millimetres with the heaviest downpours expected Monday.

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens says it won’t be easy for many residents to return to their homes and farms, especially for those still  under evacuation in the Sumas Prairie. 

Siemens says the city’s emergency operations centre is still active, and will “continue to closely monitor” river levels and the weather in the coming days. 

He says he’s happy that the highway has been reopened, as it’s a “welcome relief” for the city after its closure cut off the community from the eastern parts of B.C. 

The B.C. government said Sunday that Highway 1 out of Abbotsford was reopened in both directions after being closed due to flooding after a deluge of rain. 

The Transportation Ministry said that one eastbound lane opened Sunday morning and both westbound lanes on the highway through Abbotsford reopened Saturday night. 

The ministry said in a statement that drivers should expect congestion and slower speeds moving eastbound and give themselves more time to get where they’re going. 

It said the highway is still “vulnerable” after heavy rains caused flooding in Abbotsford, closing side roads and the highway before floodwaters began receding. 

The ministry said its still monitoring the weather situation before reopening the second eastbound lane, and warned that the highway could again be closed at “any time” should conditions change. 

The City of Abbotsford said in a statement that the flooding situation has notably improved as floodwaters are “gradually” receding, but overflow from the Nooksack River in Washington State continues.

Abbotsford said it lifted evacuation alerts and downgraded evacuation orders placed on hundreds of properties Saturday night as city staff survey the damage from the flooding. 

While many evacuation alerts were rescinded in Abbotsford on Saturday, the forecast calls for the rain to continue until Monday evening, with warnings also up for Metro Vancouver and elsewhere.

Officials in Chilliwack have warned that local rivers are expected to swell, which may cause localized flooding, but not as much as earlier in the week.

Some evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation alerts, allowing some residents to return home, but evacuation orders remain in place for 325 properties throughout Sumas Prairie, with 160 under evacuation alert.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2025.