Major Highways Out Of Metro Vancouver Have Been Shut Down As Extreme Flooding Hits B.C.

Record-breaking numbers of rainfall have come to Metro Vancouver this week, causing flooding throughout certain regions. Due to this, many major highways out of the Lower Mainland are currently shut down as the area is experiencing an array of flood advisories, watches, and warnings.

Atmospheric Rivers And Metro Vancouver

This week’s forecast for Metro Vancouver included two atmospheric rivers, which are the reasons for the intense amount of rainfall that the city has been experiencing. Places like Abbotsford have even declared a Local State of Emergency, issuing an evacuation notice for Sumas Prairie West, Sumas Prairie East, and Clayburn Village.

“The direction follows extensive conversations with the Province of BC and Whatcom County and is based on the best modelling data available at this time, which predicts the Nooksack River to crest near the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration’s major flood stage,” says the notice.

B.C. Highway Shutdown

The highway shutdown was announced by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit, noting that “major highways between the Lower Mainland and Interior [are closed] due to flooding, falling rock and debris, and high avalanche hazards.”

The situation is described as “evolving and very dynamic.” Drivers are also being cautioned that other provincial roadways could be closed with little or no notice.

As of December 11, 2025, here are all the highway alerts:

• Highway 7 partly reopened to Single Lane Alternating Traffic following a rockslide
  • Highway 9 to Ross Rd for 27.8 km
  • single lane alternating only, expect delays.
• Highway 1 – Highway 9 to Hope – Closed Eastbound
• Highway 1 – Canyon – Reopened – Yale to Lytton
• Highway 5 (Coquihalla) – CLOSED both directions between Hope and Merrit due to flooding at Sowaqua.
• Sumas border closed to commercial traffic, local traffic only
  • Border Services requests non-local traffic avoid Highway 11 / Sumas due to evacuation operations and flooding in Washington State.
• Highway 3 – CLOSED – Debris on Highway
• Highway 8 – CLOSED – local traffic only
• Highway 99 – Reopened – Mount Currie to Lilooett – planned avalanche closure later this morning

For more information on the highway shutdowns in B.C., check the DriveBC advisory here.