HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Precipitation: Prince Rupert M. Circ (76.4 mm/4 days), January 20-23, 1971.
Source: The Daily News, January 25, 1971; Files, B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Terrace; J.
Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
On January 23-24, Prince Rupert recorded 13.2 in. (33.5 cm) of snow with 9.5 in. (24.1 cm) on January 23.
Snowslides closed both the rail line and Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace. Near Rainbow Lake, snow and
slides blocked Highway 16. Many motorists, including five visiting curling rinks in town for the woman’s district
curling playdowns, were stranded. Crews worked non-stop to clear the streets. The Ministry of Transport and
Highways reported the highway open for one-lane traffic on January 25 at 5 p.m.
On January 24, CNR reported heavy snow between Terrace-Prince Rupert. The rail line was blocked in
several locations between Skeena-Salvus. Train No. 10 hit a large slide at Mile 46.7 and broke in two. The rail line
was closed for 28 hours.
March 6-9, 1971
Event type: Snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Falls River (136.7 mm/3 days), March 6-8, 1971; Terrace (65.7 mm/3 days incl. 70.3 cm snow), March
6-8, 1971; Prince Rupert M. Circ (20.6 mm/1 day), March 9, 1971.
Source: The Daily News, March 9, 1971; J. Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
On March 9, a large snowslide blocked Highway 16 and the rail line in the Little Tunnel area, 41 mi. (65.6
km) west of Terrace. No casualties were reported. The highway was closed for six hours because of the slide at Mile
41. On March 9, CNR reported a snowslide 150 ft. (45 m) long and 20 ft. (6 m) deep at Mile 41.2, closing the rail line
for seven hours.
March 31-April 4, 1971
Event type: Debris slide and snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Falls River (152.4 mm/ 4 days), March 31-April 3, 1971; Tasu Sound (314.5 mm/5 days), March 31-
April 4, 1971; Prince Rupert (50.8 mm/1 day), April 1, 1971; Prince Rupert M. Circ (67.0 mm/2 days), April 3-4,
1971; Kildala (39.9 mm/1 day), April 4, 1971.
Source: The Daily News, April 5, 1971; Terrace Omineca Herald, April 5, 1971; J. Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989.
CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
Highway 16 was blocked for two hours by a debris slide 17 mi. (27.2 km) east of Prince Rupert. On April 2
at 7:00 p.m., a snow and debris slide came down at Mile 50.2 near Telegraph Point. It blocked the highway and the
rail line and was described by a CNR spokesman as, “one of the biggest in this area for some time.” The highway was
reopened on April 3 in the afternoon.
On April 2, CNR reported snowslides at Mile 39.9 and Mile 50.1. The latter measured a length of 600 ft.
(180 m) and a depth of 30 ft. (9 m). It closed the rail line for 20 hours. On April 10, a smaller snowslide came down at
Mile 50.1, measuring a length of 150 ft. (45 m) and a depth of 10 ft. (3 m). It closed the line for 5.5 hours.
July 11-12, 1971
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: Victoria Daily Times, July 14, 1971; Terrace-Kitimat Daily Herald, July 14, 1971.
On July 11, heavy rain in the Peace River country caused a section of track on the PGE line near Chetwynd
to wash out. The line was blocked for approximately 30 hours. On the morning of July 12, Dawson Creek rose to a
high level. Both ends of the rotary bridge from the parking lot to the artificial lake flooded.
November 17-20, 1971
Event type: Flooding, debris slides and snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Falls River (88.7 mm/2 days), November 17-18, 1971; Prince Rupert M. Circ (79.3 mm/2 days),
November 17-18, 1971; Prince Rupert (69.8 mm/2 days), November 18-19, 1971; Terrace (54.1 mm/2 days),
November 18-19, 1971; Kildala (117.4 mm/3 days), November 18-20, 1971; Ocean Falls (265.9 mm/3 days), October
18-20, 1971.
Source: The Daily Herald, November 18 and 22, 1971; The Daily News, November 18 and 19, 1971; The Vancouver
Sun, November 19, 1971; The Province, November 20, 1971; Victoria Times, November 20, 1971; J. Mekechuck, pers.
comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
Overnight November 18-19, heavy rain and unusually warm temperatures caused many mud and snowslides
and washouts between 28-44 mi. (44.8-70.4 km) on Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace. A small bridge west
of Terrace was washed out. At Diana Creek, 16 mi. (25.6 km) east of Prince Rupert, the highway was flooded. Late on
November 18, it took out a 100-ft. (30 m) section of highway. Later on November 19, the road was expected to be
restored.
On November 18, CNR reported 10 rock and snowslides at Mile 39.9, 44.4, 46.0, 44.1, 50.9, 43.7, 45.2, 57.3,
and 55.9. The rail line was closed for four days and 10 hours. The largest slide, 20 ft. (6 m) deep and 300 ft. (90 m)
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