HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

January 18-24, 2005
Event type: Flooding, icejam flooding and mudslide.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: The Vancouver Sun, January 25, 2005; The Province, January 26 and 27, 2005; CBC newscasts January 18, 19,
20, 21, 23 and 24, 2005; David Jones, meteorologist Environment Canada, interview CBC January 18, 2005.
On January 18-19, freezing rain caused road closures and travel advisories throughout northern British
Columbia. It was caused by the same system that brought flooding and muslides to the Lower Mainland and
Vancouver Island and avalanches in the southern Interior. Coming directly from the Tropics and thus carrying more
moisture and heavier rain, it was dubbed a “tropical punch,” one step beyond the “Pineapple Express.” (David Jones,
interview CBC January 18, 2005).
On January 18, sections of Highway 16 between Terrace-Prince Rupert and Terrace-Smithers and Highway
37 between Terrace-Kitimat were closed due to freezing rain.
On January 19, no public schoolbuses were operating in Prince George and Quesnel. At 5 a.m., Prince
George reported rain and temperatures of 3 o C. A spokesman for the company that operates the school buses in the
School districts 57 and 91 said, “yesterday afternoon even with chains the buses slided all over the place.”
Early that day., Highway 37A between Meziadin Junction-Stewart was also closed for nine hours for
avalanche control. Severe winter conditions/travel advisories were issued for Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-
Endako and Prince George-McBride due to freezing rain; Highway 37 South between Terrace-Kitimat; Highway 26
between Quesnel-Barkerville; north of Quesnel and Highway 20 between Williams Lake-Anahim Lake.
On the morning of January 19, Highway 16 was closed between Prince George-McBride. On January 20,
Highway 16 between McBride and the Alberta border closed due to poor driving conditions. Early the next day, this
section of Highway 16 was still closed.
Around January 22-23, officials were keeping a close eye on icejams on the Bulkley River near Smithers and
the Nechako River near Prince George. A coldsnap followed by a 20-degree temperature jump caused massive icejams.
*1) Water levels on Willow River outside Prince George were up significantly. East of Chetwynd, several icejams
occurred in the East Pine River.
Early on January 24, three icejams, including two smaller ones on Naver Creek flooded four homes and
Highway 97 near Hixon. Highway 97 was temporarily closed. The largest jam grew overnight to a length of 1.5 km.
After the creek flooded its banks, a local state of emergency was called and more than 120 homes put under voluntary
evacuation order. The flow in Naver Creek was reported as three times normal. All three jams posed risk of flooding; if
the two smaller ones would breach this would more water to the bigger one downstream. On January 26, the state of
emergency still remained in effect.
Near Quesnel, 25 low-lying homes were evacuated because of ice on Cottonwood River. On January 24, an
icejam forced the closure of the Baker Creek bridge.
On the morning of January 24, highway and rail connections in the Pine Pass were disrupted by a mudflow
and flooding. A mudflow in the Pine Pass area about 20 km north of the MacKenzie junction temporarily closed
Highway 97. Soon after the highway reopened to single lane alternating traffic, it was closed again just before noon
when Rollston Creek jumped its banks. The area had recently experienced higher than normal temperatures and heavy
rain and snowmelt.
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*1) According to Jim Whyte, manager of the Provincial Emergency Program, it is very uncommon to get these kinds of
flows in January. “We’re getting flows that we’d expect in April.” (The Province, January 27, 2005).
June 13, 2005
Event type: Landslip.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: The Province, June 16, 2005.
On the night of June 13, a 200-300-m section of Highway 29 between Chetwynd-Tumbler Ridge collapsed.
Prior to the collapse, a “significant amount of rain” fell in the area. The highway closure forced traffic to make a 150km
detour.
November 22, 2005
Event type: Mudslide.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: CBC newscast November 22, 2005.
Details: On November 22, a mudslide came down onto Highway 16 west of New Hazelton. The slide
resulted in temporary single-lane alternating traffic.
November 29-30, 2005
Event type: Icejam flooding.
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