Glacial lake near Pemberton bursts, sending flood water toward nearby community
Glacial lake outburst near Pemberton sends floodwater toward Poole Creek See the latest evacuation alerts and what officials say about the risk
A glacial lake beside Place Glacier near Pemberton, British Columbia, began draining on Tuesday, sending flood water toward the Poole Creek and Gates Lake area northeast of the community.
The SquamishLillooet Regional District said technical experts believe the icemarginal lake outburst is underway. An evacuation order issued last week remains in effect for about two dozen properties in the area, and residents are being told to stay away from creeks and Gates Lake because of fastmoving water, debris, erosion and unstable banks.
Officials expect flood levels to peak later Wednesday. The region has experienced similar outbursts in 2024 and 2025, and monitoring equipment has been in place to track the lake. Experts say the timing and size of the flow remain uncertain, but the warning is being treated as a safety measure for local residents.