Rains ease in southern B.C., but flood warnings remain in place for many
CBC
The latest:
British Columbia is set to begin rebuilding from extensive flooding and mudslides after the last of three major storms eased off on Wednesday evening, but flood warnings remain in place for large parts of the province.
Communities battered by floods, including many in the Fraser Valley and the Nicola Valley east of Vancouver, remain under flood warning because of high river levels and elevated temperatures causing snow melt.
A flood watch means river levels are rising and may exceed their banks and flood adjacent areas. A flood warning means river levels have exceeded or will exceed their banks, and nearby areas will flood as a result.
Numerous highways also remain closed throughout the province, including Highway 99 between Lillooet and Pemberton because of a mudslide, as well as Highway 3 east of Princeton.
A mudslide on Canadian Pacific train tracks also led to West Coast Express commuter trains between Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley being cancelled, with further closures on Thursday morning because of a mudslide on the tracks.
Service is expected to resume Thursday afternoon. However, trains may be delayed arriving into Port Haney and Mission City Stations due to slower speed requirements through the mudslide area.
In Abbotsford, there are concerns that snow melt from Mt. Baker in Washington state could lead to more floodwater flowing into the Fraser Valley from across the U.S. border.
The storm systems that brought rain to much of southwest B.C. over the last two weeks of November also brought elevated temperatures, according to meteorologists.
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said modelling showed water levels would subside toward the end of the week, but said the situation could change in minutes.
"I would like to stress that even though it may not be actively raining, there is a lot of rainwater and snow melt that is still making its way down from the mountains," he said on Wednesday.
"The situation still remains variable and we are continuing to monitor this situation very closely."
WATCH | Higher temperatures from storms bring risk of snow melt:
After numerous temporary highway reopenings, closures on Wednesday meant Metro Vancouver was once again effectively isolated from the rest of the province.