An atmospheric river has wreaked havoc on the Fraser Valley, with heavy rains leading to numerous evacuation orders and highway closures.High amounts of precipitation are expected for the weekend through into next week..As of 8 a.m. Friday morning, the following closures are in effect:Highway 1 closed in Abbotsford between Exit 92 and Exit 104Highway 3 closed between Hope and PrincetonHighway 11 closed at the Sumas border crossing.Evacuation orders have been issued for a number of areas in Abbotsford and Chilliwack..Residents living in the Wilson Rd. area of Electoral Area E, just southeast of Chilliwack, were asked to leave immediately, while those in surrounding areas are under evacuation alert..Abbotsford declared a state of local emergency and issued evacuation orders for 371 properties in Sumas Prairie West "due to risk of flooding.""Residents in the affected area must leave immediately," the Abbotsford Police Department wrote in a post on X. "Evacuation Alerts have also been issued for Sumas Prairie East and remain in place for the rest of Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village."On Thursday, those inhabiting properties north of Highway 1 in Abbotsford were also asked to evacuate. Impacted properties include the Clarion Hotel at 36035 N. Parallel Rd., 1920 N. Parallel Rd., 2054 Whatcom Rd., 2111 Whatcom Rd., Ministry of Agriculture Building at 1767 Angus Campbell Rd., 35388 Delair Rd., and Delair Park..Heavy rains are also causing problems elsewhere in the province. .In Princeton, for example, evacuation alerts have been issued for parts of downtown, as well as section of Corina Avenue and Allison Flats.More to come...
