Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / River levels have swelled following a series of storms in B.C., prompting the B.C. River Forecast Centre to issue a flood watch for the Fraser Valley, including Sumas River.
Flood watch

River Forecast Centre issues flood watch for Fraser Valley, including Sumas River

Dec 27, 2022 | 8:27 AM

CHILLIWACK — The B.C. River Forecast Centre, a provincial agency, is maintaining to a flood watch for the Fraser Valley, including Sumas River, as well as Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound.

In a news release generated Monday, Dec. 26 at 12:30 p.m., the provincial forecast centre advised of the flood watch after the third in a series of storms passed through B.C. on Christmas Day and early Monday.

Rainfall amounts since Christmas Day tallied at least 25 millimetres, with some areas receiving as much as 100 millimetres, across British Columbia. Further, there could be an additional 5-20 mm of snowmelt being observed at regional automated snow weather stations.

An additional storm pounded Chilliwack late Monday night, bringing additional, moderate to heavy rainfall and snowmelt.

Environment Canada is calling for 5-10 mm of rain today in Chilliwack, followed by an additional 10-20 mm tonight and overnight leading into Wednesday morning (Dec. 28). More rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday in what will be wet week for Chilliwack residents.

A flood watch is in effect in Washington state, with forecasts from the National Weather Service and the Northwest River Forecast Center indicating a small risk of overbank flooding on the Nooksack River. There may be a small chance of a minor overflow event into the Sumas River drainage into British Columbia, the provincial river forecast agency indicated.