Heavy storms headed for southwest B.C., threatening recovery from floods and landslides

THE LATEST:

• More adverse weather is headed for B.C., which could worsen the mudslide situation.
• Officials say goods and services are starting to move throughout B.C., but forecasted rainfall could cause more problems.
• Abbotsford's mayor says the city has finished inspecting its diking system and found less than one per cent needed repair and the work is about 80 per cent done.
• CN railways plans to resume service between Vancouver and Kamloops on Wednesday.
• The City of Merritt has released a plan for residents to return home after the city of 7,000 was evacuated when flood waters damaged the wastewater treatment facility last week. Residents could start returning as early as Tuesday.
• A washout cut off access to Princeton on Monday, but Highway 3 has since been reopened for essential travel.
• Trans Mountain Corp. says its pipeline could be restarted by the end of the week. It was shut off Nov. 14 as a result of flooding.
• For information about highway conditions in B.C., click here.
• For a list of up-to-date flood warnings, visit the River Forecast Centre.

As B.C. moves forward on recovering from severe flooding that forced the evacuation of thousands last week, another series of storms is in the forecast, which could set progress back. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says several storms are headed for the southwest part of the province, the first of which is expected on Thursday. Though rainfall won't be quite as significant as it was last week, Castellan said it could "exacerbate the vulnerabilities on the ground currently."

Environment Canada is forecasting up to 80 millimetres of rain for the North Shore mountains and Howe Sound, as well as the Fraser Valley, which has already endured extreme flooding.

A snowfall warning is in effect for the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, which is currently closed due to damage sustained during the Nov. 13-15 storm. Up to 30 centimetres of snow could fall in the region by noon on Tuesday. 

Another storm is forecast for Saturday afternoon.

All this rainfall will be falling on land that is already saturated, which could mean a greater likelihood of water running downhill and causing mudslides and flooding.

Abbotsford prepares for more rain

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said Tuesday the city has finished inspecting its diking system and found less than one per cent needed repair after last week's heavy rainfall. About 80 per cent of the repairs were complete, he said.

"We expect another five feet (1.5 metres) of height to be added to the dike prior to the weather event anticipated for Thursday,'' Braun said during a news conference Thursday.

"I am hopeful that this will put us in the best position to manage the rain that will come.''

Braun said the Barrowtown water pump station is also being fortified through sandbagging and additional pumping with help from the Canadian Armed Forces. After the last storm, he said damage could have been worse if the key pump station had failed.

He encouraged local residents to prepare an emergency kit in advance of the coming storm.

Some Merritt residents coming home Tuesday

The City of Merritt put out a plan outlining how and when residents can return home after they were ordered to leave on Nov. 15 when the city was consumed by flood waters.

The first evacuation order is expected to be lifted at noon, and people who live north of the local RCMP detachment will be allowed to begin to head home.

Services will be limited in Merritt as the return progresses, and residents will be on a boil water notice, meaning all water must be boiled before being consumed. Additionally, the city will remain on an evacuation alert. 

Some residents, however, may not be able to return to their properties for an extended period. Some properties south of Nicola Avenue, the plan says, were affected by flooding and others were not, so evacuation orders will be lifted on a block-by-block basis. 

Dozens of properties in Abbotsford's Sumas Prairie neighbourhood remain on evacuation order. Another three properties were put on evacuation alert Monday evening, and two were ordered to evacuate.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says more than 6,500 people have been registered as evacuees and those whose homes were flooded are eligible for a $2,000 grant through the Canadian Red Cross and the province.

Rail returning midweek

Canadian Pacific Railway said it planned to reopen its line between Kamloops and Vancouver on Tuesday, but CP's CEO cautioned the next 10 days will be critical as the company moves toward returning to full service.

CP said it would work closely with customers and terminals to clear backlogs and get freight moving efficiently again.

Canadian National issued a statement saying the railway plans to restore limited service over flood-affected track by Wednesday "barring any unforeseen issues.''

Supply chain troubles, including a precautionary closure of the Trans Mountain pipeline, have led to some shortages.

The B.C. government said Monday that gas rationing would be in effect across the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast and parts of southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.