More evacuations issued as 'historic' Washington flooding spreads into B.C.

A catastrophic flooding in Washington State is forcing more B.C. residents to flee their homes, as the City of Abbotsford has expanded evacuation orders.

The city posted a new information bulletin on Thursday, Dec. 11, stating that floodwaters from the Nooksack River have crossed into Abbotsford.

New evacuation orders have been put in place for 82 properties in Huntingdon Village, up to 2nd Avenue and Sumas Way.

This is in addition to the evacuation order in place for nearly 400 properties in Sumas Prairie West, and evacuation alerts for over 1,000 properties in Sumas Prairie East and West.

Washington State Department of Transportation

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“Residents are reminded to stay away from waterways and to avoid driving across water-covered roads or bridges,” added the city in a statement.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), there are several potential reasons why the flooding has been so significant.

“A lot of the river basins in Washington State are much smaller than what we have in southern, southwestern British Columbia and the Fraser Valley,” he said.

“Oftentimes, those basins can react much more significantly, much quicker to these really extended periods of precipitation than what we see.”

ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE:

Due to rising water levels:
– 2nd Avenue is closed at B Street in all directions
– Angus Campbell Road is closed outhbound from Vye Road
– Boundary Road is closed between 2nd Avenue and Whatcom Road

Please avoid these areas and use alternate routes. Follow… pic.twitter.com/YxtgdqiylA

— Abbotsford Police Department (@AbbyPoliceDept) December 11, 2025

Around 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate in Washington State so far, with Governor Bob Ferguson declaring a state of emergency on Wednesday.

“This flooding will shatter historic records,” added Ferguson on social media. “Our message to Washingtonians receiving evacuation orders: Listen to local officials and evacuate right away.”

Washington State Department of Transportation

Amtrak passenger train service between Seattle and Vancouver has also been halted due to the major flooding in Northern Washington.

The railway company posted on its website that the service adjustment was due to “flooding of the Skagit River through Mount Vernon.”

It also added that no substitute transportation would be available.

With files from Daily Hive staff.