UPDATE: Some B.C. highways reopen

UPDATE: 2:00 p.m. Nov. 29

Highway 3 between Princeton and Hope has reopened after a proactive closure on Saturday due to heavy rain.

“With floodwaters having receded in certain parts of the highway system, we are able to reopen Highway 3,” said Transportation Minister Rob Fleming.

He says with Highway 7 also remaining open, that provides a vital corridor for the movement of essential goods between the Interior and Lower Mainland.

Highway 3 is just for commercial vehicles.

Highway 99 from Pemberton to Lillooet has also reopened.

Highway 1 from Popkum to Hope, which was also proactively closed on Saturday, remains closed at this time.

Fleming advises people to check DriveBC for the latest conditions.

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Highways still closed due to weather issues

With another storm system expected to hit the coast tomorrow, the precautionary closures of highways continues.

That includes Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton, Highway 99 from Pemberton and Lillooet and Highway 1 between Hope and Chilliwack.

The closures will be updated at a provincial flood update expected at 1:30 this afternoon.

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Warnings continue for flood-prone areas with most intense storm to come, rain causes minor issues on roads
Nov 28, 2021 | 5:00 PM

The threat of flooding has led to the closure of Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Chilliwack on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 5 p.m.

Drivers are advised that Highway 1 will be closed between McCallum Road (exit 90) and Yale Road (exit 109).

Highway 1 also remains closed between just east of Highway 9 and Hope, through the Popkum/Bridal Falls area.

Highway 7 remains open between Mission and Hope. Drivers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place on this section of Highway 7.

Check for updates: www.DriveBC.ca (http://www.drivebc.ca/)

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12:40 p.m. story

British Columbia’s public safety minister is urging residents in flood-prone areas not to let their guard down and to remain prepared to take action.

“We are in the middle of one of the most intense series of storms we have seen along coastal B.C. This is historic weather intensified by climate change,” Mike Farnworth told a provincial flood update on Sunday.

Farnworth said more heavy rain is on the way with the third in series of storms expected by mid-week

“This next storm could the most intense since the original storm pulse hit two weeks ago,” he cautioned.

The minister, who is also the deputy premier, said with more heavy rains, residents in the north, central and south coasts, Vancouver Island, Abbotsford and Sumas Prairie are facing an extremely volatile situation.

He said they have to be prepared for heavy rains that could make flooding more severe or create new flooding and impact roads. Those residents should follow weather forecasts, listen to local government direction, and clear eves-troughs, gutters and storm drains. They should avoid essential travel in the coming days and avoid driving through flood water.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said they closed Highways 1, 3 and 99 proactively on Saturday due to the storms. He added staff are conducting assessments of roads today, with no major slides or washouts, but some smaller issues.

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton has some trees and minor debris come down on the highway which is being cleared.

On Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope, there was a slide 7 km east of spot of an earlier closure at the junction of Highways 1 and 9.

There was also minor rockfall on Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon and on Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet.

Fleming said people should check DriveBC for updates and for details on when the highways will reopen.

Armel Castallan from Environment Canada said they are into the second half of the second storm with 20 to 30 millimetres more rain expected on top of the more than 100 mm that Hope has seen.

Ted White from the B.C. River Forecast Centre said this is the second of a series of atmospheric river events. He said it should be drier on Monday with another storm on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Farnworth said the provincial and federal governments are matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross to help flood victims, tripling the donation value.

He said the Red Cross has distributed $2.5 million to people impacted so far.