Stories of the Storm

A few snippets of coverage from afar of the late March blast of winter that surprised the Northwest on Wednesday and Thursday.



Snowfall hampers Northwest Communities
By Margaret Speirs
The Terrace Standard
Mar 29 2007

THE NORTHWESTERN communities of Terrace and Kitimat were virtually shut down as near-record heavy snowfall closed roads, closed the regional airport and cut power March 29.
Nearly a half metre of snow – 73cm – fell beginning late March 28 up until late afternoon March 29, leaving residents digging their vehicles out and children home for the day as schools were closed.

Highway 16 west of Terrace remained closed going into the night due to a high avalanche hazard.

Crews from private road maintenance contractor Nechako Northcoast were working hard to clear off accumulations of snow so the highway could be re-opened.

Nechako Northcoast sent out every piece of equipment and every employee it could muster in addition to bringing in help from other places.

“We’re starting to get a handle on things,” said company general manager Peter Lansdowne late in the day.

Crews on the highway and elsewhere were interrupted by falling power lines and trees downed by the sheer weight of wet heavy snow falling from the skies.

Power outages left thousands of residents in Terrace, neighbouring Thornhill, down south in Kitimat and north in the Nass Valley in the dark for most of the night and morning.
Downed power lines also blocked Highway 37 South between Terrace and Kitimat for periods of time.

BC Hydro crews worked throughout the day to restore power and two extra crews were brought in to assist them.

By the end of the day, most of the power was on except for outlying rural areas and in the Nass Valley. Power there may not be restored until Saturday, March 31.

For a time, Nechako Northcoast and transportation ministry officials were worried that roadclearing equipment would run out of fuel because the power outages meant pumps weren’t working.

The Northwest Regional Airport, located on Hwy37 South between Terrace and Kitimat, was also closed March 29. Flights belonging to Air Canada Jazz, Pacific Coastal Airlines and Hawkair were affected meaning that hundreds of of passengers could not either leave for Vancouver or return to the northwest.


March Arrived in Pacific Northwest as Lion...Leaves As a Bigger Lion
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By 250 News
Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:08 AM


Long time residents of Terrace, Kitimat, and Prince Rupert are saying this is one of the worst winters they can remember.

About 12 to 15 inches of snow fell in Kitimat in the past day.

City Manager Trafford Hall says "We have power lines down and some trees broken off. The best snow removal in the world is in Kitimat and we have been taxed overnight." Halls says "March came in like a Lion and went out like a bigger Lion."

Over in Terrace, Jack Hodgins says that in the 25 years he has lived in Terrace this is the worst winter he has ever seen. " I have never seen it this bad this late in the time I have lived here" says Hodgins. "The power was off at my house since 8.00 am. I can’t begin to tell you how many power outages there are" Power was cut during the interview, when Opinion250 reconnected with Hodgins, he talked about lots and lots of snow "We got about 8 to 12 inches here, but it really depends on what side of town that you;'re in as to how much you got. I do know this, it is raining and snowing now so that makes it doubly hard to move."

Things are also pretty bad in Prince Rupert . Ron Bolton, who has lived in that community fore the past 20 years said this is the worst he's ever seen. "There really is lots of snow here today. It’s a snow day for the school kids here in Prince Rupert , and the people from Stewart just laugh when we tell them we got a foot. In some places up there they got as much as three feet of new snow."

The Nass highway is open in only a few spots as efforts are made to re connect power to the 1,000 homes without power in the North West and efforts are made to try and get the main roads re opened. Highway 16 was closed west of Agate Creek to 40 km west of Terrace because of a high risk of avalanche. HIghway 16 from Terraces to east of highway 37 has heavy snow, and on highway 37 hydro lines are down.

If you are heading to the coast, check the Drive B.C. website for current road conditions www.drivebc.ca

Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:08 AM in News by 250 News


CBC News
A blast of winter weather has hammered a wide area of northwestern B.C., knocking out power to thousands and shutting down highways in the region.

The overnight snowstorm dumped up to 37 cm of snow in some parts of the Prince Rupert area, and the snow started falling again later on Thursday morning, with up to 10 cm more expected.


Schools and the college in Prince Rupert are closed Thursday, and about 1,500 homes and businesses in the area were without power.

Municipal buses in Prince Rupert are delayed or not running at all, and the accumulation of snow is making getting to bus stops difficult.

B.C. Hydro said most of its customers in the Terrace area and about 1,000 people in the Nass Valley area were also in the dark.

Hydro spokesman Bob Gammer said the heavy wet snow is breaking lines and even bringing down poles.

He said the snow has also made it difficult for crews to reach some areas to repair the downed lines.

Downed hydro lines are also blocking the highway between Terrace and Kitimat.

Hydro says many people will not have their power back until Saturday, while 750 customers in Stewart will be out until Friday.

The highway areas between Prince Rupert and Terrace and through the Nass Valley are closed due to avalanche hazard.

Travel advisories are in effect for travel in the Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat and Nisga'a highway areas due to heavy snow and slush.