Flood warning issued for Sumas River

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the Sumas River as a series of storms drenches the province’s South Coast.

This is an upgrade from an earlier notice of a flood watch.

The centre says the river levels along the Sumas River in Abbotsford are expected to rise and flood adjacent areas.

Flooding has already occurred just across the Canada-U.S. border at the Nooksack River in Washington State.

Flood warnings are issued when flooding is imminent as river levels have exceeded bankfull.

Meanwhile, the centre is maintaining a flood watch for the South Coast, including Howe Sound, Sunshine, Coast, Sea-to-Sky, and North Shore Mountains, as well as the Fraser Valley (affecting tributaries from Port Coquitlam to Harrison) and Vancouver Island.

A high streamflow advisory remains in place for Lower Fraser River tributaries including areas around Pemberton and Lillooet River tributaries, Fraser Valley – East (except the Sumas River), and Fraser Canyon.

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre said Sunday morning the worst is yet to come in a series of atmospheric rivers drenching the province’s South Coast.

The centre says the strongest system is expected to arrive Monday and persist throughout the region until the middle of the week.

It says the heaviest rainfall will hit western Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountains, with between 200 and 400 millimetres in the forecast.

Listen live to The Leader Spirit 1130 for any further information about flood warnings across the South Coast. Listen live every 10 minutes on the ones for weather updates. You can also follow us on X @The Leader SpiritVAN and subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.