Abbotsford, B.C., officials 'very concerned' with up to 220 mm of rainfall expected through Wednesday
Overnight rainfall in flood-ravaged Abbotsford, B.C., was no match for the city's fully operational Barrowtown Pump Station, but officials remain anxious about the forecast over the coming days.
Mayor Henry Braun said the atmospheric river that arrived on the South Coast Thursday delivered approximately 50 millimetres of rain, but that the Barrowtown floodgates remained fully open throughout the night, allowing the swollen Sumas River to continue emptying into the Fraser.
"Overnight conditions remained stable across the flood zone," Braun said at a Friday morning update.
"Despite this positive news, we remain very concerned about the coming weather events and the impact they will have."
The mayor noted that floodwaters in Sumas Prairie were dropping by up to eight inches per day prior to Thursday's storm, but only decreased by three inches over the last 24 hours while pumps grappled with a new influx of rain and river runoffs.
And the next two atmospheric rivers expected to reach the region Saturday and Tuesday could be significantly wetter.
"Current estimates are that we will receive between 90 and 120 millimetres Saturday and Sunday, with an additional 50 to 100 millimetres of rain Tuesday and Wednesday," Braun said. "Cumulatively, that is more water in total than the initial event, although over a longer period of time."
The historic storm that caused devastating flooding, landslides and highway washouts in B.C. last week delivered about 180 millimetres of rain to Abbotsford over about two-and-a-half days.
Braun has estimated the flooding caused $1 billion worth of damage in his city alone. Thousands of livestock also died as a result of the natural disaster, the scale and severity of which has been blamed on human-caused climate change.
The mayor said crews have been hard at work bracing for the next storms, and have completed repairs on the main portion of a dike that burst last week, sending water from the Sumas River gushing into Sumas Prairie.
Efforts continue to raise a further seven kilometres of dike along the river, which Braun estimated would be finished late Friday or Saturday.
Much remains out of local and provincial officials' control, however. Last week's flooding was exacerbated by water from the Nooksack River in Washington state, which has been surging once again.
The river is currently expected to reach "moderate flood stage" on Sunday, according to an update posted on the Whatcom County website Friday.
"Damage to levee systems from previous storms may result in greater impacts to the floodplain areas than would typically be experienced at these river levels," the county said, adding that the "potential also exists for this to impact Sumas."
Flooding in the city of Sumas could result in water spilling across the border into B.C., Abbotsford said in Friday evening update.
Given the forecast, Braun said he does not expect any changes to Abbotsford's existing evacuation orders before the middle of next week.
"We understand this is a difficult time for everyone impacted by this difficult situation," the mayor added. "Please know we are focussed on your safety and will continue to update you as we can."
Meanwhile, Canada Task Force 1 is continuing to perform rapid damage assessments in the city. More than 2,000 properties have been assessed so far, and the team is expected to undertake 1,000 more over the coming days.
With files from The Canadian Press
Correction
Correction: A previous version of this story reported that Braun estimated flooding damage in his city to be in the billions. The damage is estimated to be $1 billion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.