HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

December 8-10, 1951
Event type: Rain-on-snow flooding and landslides.
Precipitation: Stewart (113.3 mm/3 days), December 8-10, 1975; Aiyansh (67.0 mm/2 days), December 9-10, 1951;
Prince Rupert (60.5 mm/1 day), December 10, 1951.
Source: The Daily News, December 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17, 1951; The Omineca Herald, December 14, 1951; The
Interior News, December 13 and 20, 1951.
A combination of rain and warm weather caused slides and washouts. Communication lines were cut, but
temporary service was restored on December 11. The telegraph, long distance telephone, and radio network were
interrupted. On December 12, the telegraph service to Prince Rupert was restored.
From December 1 on, Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace was closed. Some of the deep washouts
were filled with snow from the slides. The highway was closed for at least four days. A total of three highway bridges
went out. The flats along the highway near Exstew and Salvus were flooded with up to 2 ft. (60 cm) of slush. On the
Prince Rupert section, at least six large slides occurred and numerous slides on the Terrace end. A 700-ft. (210 m)
slide occurred at Mile 70, near the Little Kwinitsa Tunnel, and a 15-ft. (4.5 m) wide slide between Skeena-Telegraph
Point. The Delta Creek bridge washed out and the creek at the bottom of Amsbury Hill caused a bad washout. The
bridge at Amsbury Hill was replaced. The bridge approach near the Little Kwinitsa Tunnel washed out. On the
Terrace end, the road was covered with trees and debris over a distance of several miles.
The last washed-out bridge at Delta Creek was expected to be repaired by December 14. On December 20,
the highway was reported to be open, restricted to essential traffic only and limited to vehicles under 4,000 lb. (1,816
kg). District Engineer L.E. Smith advised the road to be “passable but should be used with the utmost care.”
Many slides and washouts cut the rail line between Skeena-Salvus. The main damage occurred on a 15-mi.
(24-km) stretch west of Kwinitsa. Two bridges were plugged with debris and as a result had their approaches on both
ends washed out. A slide 2 mi. (3.2 km) west of Kwinitsa was 500 ft. (150 m) wide and consisted of snow, mud, and
trees. The slide 9 mi. (14.4 km) west of Kwinitsa covered the right-of-way to a depth of 4 ft. (1.2 m). The slide 2 mi.
(3.2 km) east of Kwinitsa covered the track for a distance of 1.5 mi. (2.4 km). Several other slides, one being 100 ft.
(30 m) long, occurred. Water ran across the track in several locations, including 4 mi. (6.4 km) west of Kwinitsa,
where the roadbed washed out to a depth of 3 ft. (90 cm). Further west there were minor washouts and water across
the tracks. There was also water on the track in several places between Shames-Amsbury. One slide measured a
length of 250-300 ft. (75-90 m). On December 10, thirteen people got stranded. They stayed at the Kwinitsa station
and Gordon Little Lumber mill’s cookhouse. On December 12 they were brought out to Terrace on a work train.
January 16, 1952
Event type: Snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Not available.
Source: The Interior News, January 17, 1952.
On January 16, “one of the worst storms ever recorded along the lower Skeena” blocked the rail line between
Terrace-Prince Rupert. Shortly before midnight January 16, snowdrifts and slides piled up by 70-mph (112 km/h)
winds tied up the railway.
April 11, 1952
Event type: Mudslide.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Cariboo Observer, April 17, 1952.
On April 11, a big mudslide blocked the Deep Creek diversion south of Soda Creek, delaying traffic for
hours. The northbound Greyhound bus arrived at Quesnel four hours late. Though the slide was cleared late on April
11, portions of the hill were still only wide enough for one-way traffic.
Slippery mud caused by spring break-up conditions delayed the start of construction of the Ahbau bridge,
north of Quesnel.
April 15-21, 1952
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Sandspit (79.5 mm/1 day), April 15, 1952; Falls River (192.0 mm/2 days), April 15-16, 1952; Kemano
(115.8 mm/2 days), April 15-16, 1952; Prince Rupert (123.4 mm/2 days), April 15-16, 1952; Terrace (68.6 mm/1 day),
April 16, 1952; Terrace (136.4 mm/3 days), April 16-18, 1952.
Source: The Daily News, April 16 and 17, 1952; The Omineca Herald, April 18, 1952; The Interior News, April 17 and
24, 1952; The Cariboo Observer, April 24, 1952; The Vancouver Province, May 13, 1952.
Prince Rupert reported heavy rain and a gale with winds of 40 mph (64.4 km/h). Digby Island recorded 5.5
in. (139.7 mm) of rain in 72 hours or 4.5 in. (114.3 mm) in less than 48 hours. On April 15, Prince Rupert recorded the
greatest rainfall in 24 hours with 79.5 mm. The city suffered light property damage and the telegraph line went out.
Terrace recorded 2.6 in. (66.0 mm) of rain, for the 24-hour period of April 16-17, and 1.75 in. (44.5 mm) for 24 hours
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