Highway 5 southbound at Zopkios Rest Area near the Coquihalla Summit, looking north, as seen around 9:45 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2025. (Image Credit: DriveBC)

By Victor Kaisar

Atmospheric River

UPDATE: Coquihalla reopens between Hope and Merritt; Highway 3 remains closed

Dec 10, 2025 | 9:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — UPDATE (4:00 p.m.): The Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt has reopened after a roughly 20-hour closure due to flooding.

DriveBC says the highway was reopened in both directions at 3:45 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 11). The major thoroughfare was closed around 8:00 p.m. Wednesday due to flooding at Sowaqua.

“We recognize folks’ plans may have been impacted by this closure, but please don’t rush, and drive to conditions,” highway maintenance contractor Yellowhead Road and Bridge Nicola said in a statement. “Be aware there is ongoing risk of closures and rain events in the Lower Mainland.”

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton remains closed due to debris on the roadway with an update expected at 7:00 p.m. this evening.

The Trans-Canada is also closed to eastbound traffic between Bridal Falls and Hope, with a detour available via Highway 7 into Hope. The section of the Trans-Canada between Hope and Lytton was reopened around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, after an overnight closure due to adverse weather conditions.

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Highway 99 between Lillooet and Pemberton was also also reopened around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, following a closure due to rain, deteriorating conditions, and an increased risk of debris flows.

A number of evacuation orders and alerts are in effect across the Fraser Valley as an atmospheric river threatens communities like Abbotsford though Chilliwack appears to have been spared from any serious damage.

Evacuation alerts are also in place at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the town of Princeton, where the Tulameen River area has been upgraded from a flood watch to a flood warning.

You can find the latest from the BC River Forecast Centre here and the latest updates on road conditions from DriveBC here.

ORIGINAL STORY: KAMLOOPS — All four major highways connecting the B.C. Interior to the Lower Mainland are closed as an atmospheric river washes over several southern areas of the province.

Highways 1, 3, 5 and 99 are closed either as a precaution or due to flooding or debris on the roadway.

The Trans-Canada is closed between Hope and Lytton due to adverse weather conditions, while the Coquihalla is closed between Hope and Merritt due to flooding at Sowaqua.

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton is closed due to debris on the roadway, while Highway 99 is closed between Lillooet and Pemberton due to rain, deteriorating conditions, and an increased risk of debris flows.

Elsewhere, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit notes the eastbound lanes of Highway 1 are closed between Highway 9 and Hope, while Highway 7 is closed west of Hope between Highway 9 and Ross Road.

Highway 11 at the Sumas border crossing is also closed to commercial traffic, though its open to local traffic only.

“There is no timeline for reopening,” the Ministry said, in a Wednesday (Dec. 10) evening statement. “Contractors are on standby to clear debris and reopen highways as soon as it is safe to do so.”

A travel advisory is also in place for parts of the Fraser Valley due to heavy rainfall. Provincial officials are urging people to avoid non-essential travel in affected areas and to not drive through flooded roads.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has CLOSED major highways between the Lower Mainland and the Interior due to #BCFlood, falling rock and debris, and high avalanche hazards. Impacted highways include:
• #BCHwy1 eastbound closed at #BCHwy9
• #BCHwy1 closed between… pic.twitter.com/QdFyOX6I9M

— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) December 11, 2025

B.C. Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene says the City of Abbotsford has put about 1,000 properties under evacuation alert, while several properties in neighbouring Chilliwack were earlier put under evacuation order.

Yellow rainfall warnings are in effect across much of southern B.C. and portions of western and southern Vancouver Island. An orange warning is in place for parts of the Fraser Valley, with between 90 and 130 mm of rain possible.

Additionally, Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge – which is still being repaired after an atmospheric river in 2021 – is open to local traffic only as it is still an active construction zone.

“Drivers are cautioned that other provincial roadways could be closed with little or no notice,” the Ministry statement added. “Ministry staff and maintenance contractors continue to patrol highways to identify areas of concern.”

East of Kamloops, the Trans-Canada is also closed between Revelstoke and Golden due to avalanche control work, which is expected to wrap up at midnight. Eastbound commercial vehicles are being held in Malakwa, while passenger vehicles can bypass Malakwa using the frontage road.

You can find the latest updates on road conditions at DriveBC here.