HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Between July 31-August 2, Dawson Creek received a record rainfall of 85.6 mm in three days. This amount
by far surpassed the total precipitation for the entire months of July and August 1981.
A number of washouts occurred on the Chetwynd-Tumbler Ridge and Dawson Creek-Tumbler Ridge
highways. Though narrowed somewhat in certain sections, both highways remained open. The Boundary-Tumbler
Ridge link closed due to a minor culvert washout at mile 42. This was expected to be repaired by 3 p.m. on August 3.
The rains were so severe that some of the better grain crops in the South Peace “lodged” or went down said
Field Crops Specialist Jack Dobb of the provincial Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Particularly hard hit was the hay
crop. The rain delayed the fescue harvest. After the previous year’s drought, this hay was already in short supply. The
rain also leached nutrients out of the hay, resulting in substantially lower quality feed.
September 23-26, 1983
Event type: Flooding and debris slides.
Precipitation: Hartley Bay (120.4 mm/2 days), September 23-24, 1983; Sewell Inlet (235.7 mm/3 days), September 23-
25, 1983; Pallant Creek (184.4 mm/3 days), September 23-25, 1983; Falls River (205.0 mm/2 days), September 24-25,
1983; Prince Rupert (229.8 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Terrace (51.8 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983;
Kitimat 2 (152.0 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Stewart A (96.8 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Tasu
Sound (261.0 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Kildala (88.2 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Sandspit A
(67.6 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Nass Camp (88.8 mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Falls River (205.0
mm/2 days), September 24-25, 1983; Kemano (35.0 mm/1 day), September 25, 1983; Langara (56.8 mm/1 day),
September 25, 1983.
Source: The Daily Herald, September 26 and 27, 1983; Northern Sentinel, September 29, 1983; The Daily News,
September 26, 1983; Environment Canada 1991; B.C. Ministry of Forests, Queen Charlotte City.
Between September 23-25, Digby Island recorded 343.7 mm (13.53 in.) of rain in 58 hours. Prince Rupert
had 270 mm (10.63 in.): 54.2 mm on September 24, 139.2 mm on September 25, and 76.2 mm on September 26. The
three-day rainstorm caused damage on the Queen Charlotte Islands, Prince Rupert, and past Terrace. In Prince Rupert,
Hays Creek flooded Patullo Park. City crews, concerned about possible flooding of the swimming pool, kept a close
watch on the dike behind the Civic Centre. Basements were flooded throughout the city, with the Eagle subdivision
being worst hit. In Prince Rupert, several homes flooded by water coursing under Highway 16. One basement had 4
ft. (1.2 m) of water. The Department of Highways spent several days cleaning up the results of the region-wide
damage, estimated in the thousands of dollars. In the Port Edward area, a mudslide near the Cassiar Cannery closed
the highway for seven hours. A small rockslide came down some 15 km west of Terrace, closing one lane of Highway
16 for a short time. Some 40 mi. (64 km) east of Terrace, a rockslide came down. CNR reported some water lapping
over the tracks near Tyee.
In the Terrace area, B.C. Timber’s West Kalum Road was closed until September 27. Some sections were
flooded and one bridge was washed out. B.C. Timber’s Twin River Woodlands Division shut down. Roads were
flooded at Star Creek and Nelson River.
On September 26, the Kitimat River below Hirsch Creek recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of
1,700 m 3 /s and a maximum daily discharge of 931 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). The Minette Bay Road into
Kitamaat Village was closed for half an hour. A road culvert was plugged and the road and some shoulders washed
out. Some other minor washouts and rockslides occurred.
On the Queen Charlotte Islands, minor flooding occurred on Highway 16. Some sections had 2-3 ft. (60-90
cm) of water on the road. At least 14 slides were reported in the Sewell Inlet area (B.C. Ministry of Forests). The
weather station at Sewell Inlet recorded 263.8 mm of rain in four days.
November 1983
Event type: Landslide.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: Bruce Easton, pers. comm. April 19, 1994. CN Rail Prince George.
Around the end of November, the hillside near the bridge across Bannock Creek on the rail line between
Terrace-Kitimat collapsed. The south slope slid towards the creek. A new abutment was put in and additional bracing
piles were driven in. The piles were recapped and bracing put in between the piles. The creek, which was
undermining the toe, was straightened out (Bruce Easton, pers. comm.).
January 21-27, 1984
Event type: Debris slides.
Precipitation: Falls River (248.4 mm/6 days), January 21-26, 1984; Tasu Sound (281.2 mm/6 days), January 21-26,
1984; Sewell Inlet (514.2 mm/6 days), January 21-26, 1984; Prince Rupert M. Circ (237.3 mm/6 days), January 21-26,
1984; Bella Coola (298.0 mm/7 days), January 21-27, 1984; Ocean Falls (604.2 mm/7 days), January 21-27, 1984;
Falls River (265.7 mm/7 days), January 21-27, 1984; Salvus Camp (172.8 mm/5 days), January 22-26, 1984; Kitimat 2
(137.4 mm/3 days), January 24-26, 1984; Pallant Creek (245.2 mm/3 days), January 24-26, 1984; Sandspit A (40.1
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