Click here for the latest updates on the high streamflow advisories in place for parts of the Southern Interior.

Flooding in the Lower Mainland as well as part of the Southern Interior continues to be a dynamic and evolving situation.

Although Highway 1 reopened between Yale and Lytton Thursday morning, both Highway 3 and the Coquihalla remain closed. Highway 1 is also closed to eastbound traffic near Bridal Falls.

However, the Ministry of Transit and Transportation confirmed the highways did not suffer any significant damage.

Updates on those two highways are expected later today.

In an update Thursday morning, Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said a total of 400 properties are on evacuation order and another 1,800 are on evacuation alert.

The City of Abbotsford declared a local state of emergency and expanded evacuation orders due to floodwaters from the Nooksack River crossing into the city.

The Fraser Valley Regional District also issued a state of local emergency and ordered evacuation orders for several properties near the Chilliwack River.

In the Southern Interior, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen announced evacuation orders for the Princeton Municipal Campground and an evacuation alert for an area on the banks of the Tulameen River behind the Princeton Hospital.

Both the Similkameen and Tulameen River were upgraded to a flood warning Thursday morning. BC’s River Forecast Centre downgraded the Ashnola River to a high streamflow advisory.

“Flows continue to rise to very high levels along tributaries of the Similkameen River at and upstream of Princeton, including the Pasayten River, upper Similkameen, and Tulameen Rivers, with current observed flows (7AM) in the 10-year to 100-year range,” the River Forecast Center said.

“Additional rises are expected this morning at Princeton.”

Meanwhile, in Merritt, the situation seems much calmer and no evacuation orders or alerts have been issued. 

A high streamflow advisory is being maintained for the Coldwater River.

It was just four years ago when the City of Merritt was devastated by flooding after the Coldwater River breached its banks in November 2021.

Photo Credit: City of MerrittThe Coldwater River Wednesday night.

The River Forecast Centre said that although the rain has ended “rivers are still responding to runoff from rain and snowmelt.”

In an update Thursday morning, Greene said geotechnical experts remain on the ground across the southern half of the province to assess highways and other areas of concern.

She said flood assets and equipment like sandbags and tiger dams are being deployed to hardest hit communities.

Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, confirmed that 66 farms with livestock are under evacuation order and another 99 are under evacuation alert.

She said she’s been in touch with several associations and farmers in the Lower Mainland and are providing as much support as they can. 

David Campbell with the BC River Forecast Centre said many rivers have reached their peaks and will begin to recede throughout Thursday.

He said the two rivers near Princeton are expected to reach their peaks today and will begin receding by the afternoon.

Campbell said the province was closely monitoring the Sumas and Nooksack rivers.

Abbotsford was also devastated by flooding in late 2021 after the Sumas river breached its banks.

Campbell confirmed the Sumas did breach its banks and began flooding into the Canada side of the border and  “ongoing challenging conditions" are expected to continue throughout the day.

He also confirmed that another round of atmospheric rivers are forecast to hit the province on Sunday and into Monday.

_{Thumbnail photo credit: DriveBC}