HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

Precipitation: Falls River (131.8 mm/2 days), February 4-5, 1961; Terrace (121.4 mm/2 days), February 4-5, 1961;
Kitimat Townsite (161.0 mm/2 days), February 4-5, 1961; Prince Rupert M. Circ (101.4 mm/2 days), February 4-5,
1961.
Source: Terrace Omineca Herald, February 9, 1961; The Northern Sentinel, February 9, 1961.
The Kitimat River flooded its banks, causing washouts in Kitimat on Haisla Boulevard at the overpass. The
washout started above the roadway on the Haisla Hill, taking out part of the bank on the south side, west of the
overpass. Municipal crews and equipment sandbagged the washout. The Kitimat River littered its banks with ice and
debris.
On the airport road near Terrace, one pier on the northern approach of the Thornhill bridge was carried away.
The Lakelse section of the highway had two near-washouts. Two culverts were put in.
October 1-4, 1961
Event type: Flooding.
Precipitation: Aiyansh (90.7 mm/3 days), October 1-3, 1961; Prince Rupert (123.4 mm/4 days), October 1-4, 1961;
Stewart (240.8 mm/4 days), October 1-4, 1961; Kitimat Townsite (106.0 mm/2 days), October 2-3, 1961; Falls River
(143.5 mm/2 days), October 2-3, 1961; Prince Rupert M. Circ (168.6 mm/4 days), October 2-5, 1961; Terrace (57.2
mm/2 days), October 3-4, 1961; Kitimat Townsite (49.5 mm/1 day) October 3, 1961.
Source: Northern Sentinel, October 5 and 12, 1961; Prince Rupert Daily News, October 4 and 5, 1961; Terrace
Omineca Herald, October 5, 1961; The Vancouver Sun, October 4, 1961; The Daily Colonist, October 5 and 6, 1961; J.
Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.; Meziadin Environment Advisory Team 1975 (Vol. 4
Appendix C1.1); B.C. Ministry of Public Works 1963 (p. J 104).
Stewart recorded 12 in. (304.8 mm) of rain in 48 hours, Kitimat 3.5 in. (88.9 mm) in 48 hours, and the
Terrace airport 2.5 in. (63.5 mm) in 24 hours.
On October 3, floodwaters washed out the approaches to four bridges on Highway 16 west of Terrace and
two bridges on Kalum Lake Road (B.C. Ministry of Public Works 1963). Highway 16 was closed to traffic for 24
hours, stranding dozens of travelers between Prince Rupert-Terrace. It was hoped to reopen the highway to one-way
traffic on October 5.
The bridges at Scree Creek and Marble Creek, 8.9 mi. (14.2 km) and 7.1 mi. (11.4 km) west of Terrace,
respectively, washed out. The bridge at Marble Creek had to be replaced. The bridges at Shames River and Delta
Creek were undermined. On Highway 16 east of Terrace, the bridge at Boulder Creek, 6 mi. (9.6 km) east of
Cedarvale, washed out. Traffic was detoured over the old bridge, which had a 10-ton load limit. On Kalum Road, the
approaches at Glacier Creek washed out. On October 8, a rockslide occurred in the Nass Valley at Mile 46 on the
Columbia Cellulose Road, stranding 25 motorists.
CNR reported three washouts at Mile 9.7, Mile 11.5, and Mile 12 on the rail line between Prince Rupert-
Terrace. The line was closed for nine hours (J. Mekechuck, pers. comm.).
Stewart was isolated when the dam in the Bear River broke and flooded. The river broke its retaining walls
and cut parts of the Stewart-Cassiar highway under construction. Stewart sustained heavy property damage and
several residents had to be evacuated. Several airstrips were reported damaged. Several washouts occurred and two
bridges were damaged.
October 10-14, 1961
Event type: Rain-on-snow flooding.
Precipitation: Stewart (436.6 mm/5 days), October 10-14, 1961; Aiyansh (46.7 mm/1 day), October 12, 1961; Kitimat
Townsite (83.1 mm/1 day), October 12, 1961; Kitimat (103.9 mm/1 day), October 12, 1961; Kitimat (166.7 mm/3
days), October 12-14, 1961; Falls River (129.6 mm/3 days), October 12-14, 1961; Prince Rupert (42.7 mm/1 day),
October 13, 1961; Langara (99.1 mm/2 days), October 13-14, 1961.
Source: Northern Sentinel, October 19 and November 2, 1961; Prince Rupert Daily News, October 16, 17, 18 and 19,
1961; December 18, 1961; The Daily Colonist, October 17, 1961 and September 23, 1962; Terrace Omineca Herald,
October 19, 1961; The Province, October 17 and 18, 1961; The Vancouver Sun, October 17 and 18, 1961; The
Colonist, October 18, 1961; The Times, November 25, 1961; The Daily Alaska Empire, October 13, 16 and 17, 1961;
Meziadin Environmental Advisory Team 1975 (Vol. 3, part II p. 4.9); B.C. Ministry of Public Works 1963 (p. J 104);
Water Survey of Canada; John Wright, pers. comm. Road and bridge foreman, Terrace.
Between October 10-14, 1961, Kitimat recorded 5.5 in. (139.7 mm) of rain in 96 hours. The storm, with
heavy rain, warm temperatures, and freak winds, swept down from Atlin, causing flash floods.
On October 13, extreme high water again washed out three bridge approaches on Highway 16 west of
Terrace and one bridge approach on Kalum Lake Road, closing the roads for seven hours. One-half mile (800 m) of
roadway was destroyed on Kalum Lake Road, and numerous washouts occurred on many side roads. High water also
caused four major washouts on Highway 16 east of Terrace, closing the road for 15 hours (B.C. Ministry of Public
Works 1963).
The Nass River flooded, cutting off Greenville and Aiyansh. It was the largest recorded flood on the Nass
River. On October 14, the river rose 11 ft. (3.3 m) during the afternoon and evening. The Nass River Water Survey of
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