Abbotsford declares state of emergency over Fraser River flood threat

Abbotsford police are delivering evacuation orders to residents of Glen Valley and Matsqui Prairie this afternoon (June 22).

“Rising river levels on the Fraser River are jeopardizing evacuation routes in these areas and has led us to issue evacuation orders to some residents,” Abbotsford fire chief Don Beer said in a news release.

Residents of the area are being asked to leave immediately due to "high risk of threat to life and property", according to the release.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has a high streamflow advisory in effect for the lower Fraser River.

In an update issued at 10:20 a.m. today, the centre said river levels at Hope were peaking at that time and expected to remain "elevated" over the weekend.

"The current weather forecast in southern BC is for the warmer weather yesterday and today transitioning into warm and wet weather later today and into the weekend. This will lead to additional rises in inflows from local rivers along the lower Fraser River, and will result in higher flows being maintained through the weekend," the centre's update states.

The update continues: "River levels are expected to drop slightly into the early part of next week, however the transition across the province to wetter weather could lead to higher flows again, later next week."

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