November 2021 Pacific Northwest floods

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November 2021 Pacific Northwest floods
Meritt BC Flooding November 2021.png
Flooding in Merritt, British Columbia on November 17, 2021
DateNovember 14, 2021–present
LocationSouthern British Columbia, Canada
Northwestern Washington, United States
CauseRain
DeathsAt least 2

The 2021 Pacific Northwest floods are a series of floods that affected British Columbia, Canada, and parts of neighboring Washington state in the United States. The flooding along with numerous mass wasting events was caused by an atmospheric river which brought heavy rain to parts of southern British Columbia and northwestern United States. The natural disaster has prompted a state of emergency for the province of British Columbia.[1]

Of particular concern in southern British Columbia was the severe short-term and long-term disruption of the transportation corridor linking the coastal city of Vancouver, Canada's largest port, to the Fraser Valley, the rest of British Columbia and the rest of Canada. The Fraser Valley, which is heavily populated, is responsible for most of the agricultural production in the province, with limited ability to feed livestock in the absence of rail service.[2] The Fraser Valley is particularly hard hit, as all major routes westward to Vancouver and eastward toward Alberta were impacted. Alternative routes into northern BC and southbound into Washington state are limited by the mountainous topography. The heavily used rail links of the Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) were both disrupted, as well as all highways that connect the Lower Mainland with the rest of the province.[3]

Public concern over these extensive disruptions to the supply chain have led to panic buying across the Lower Mainland.[4][5][6] Agricultural production will likely remain disrupted for a longer period of time, in addition to the disruption in shipments of grain, coal and potash to the Port of Vancouver.[2]

Background[edit]

Several weather systems in early November contributed to record rainfall in southwestern British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. One of the systems produced a tornadic waterspout near Vancouver on November 6.[7] Another system prompted two separate tornado warnings to be issued in Kitsap County, Washington, on November 9.[8] A deep low pressure system, which climatologists refer to as an atmospheric river, formed in the Pacific Ocean and moved onto the coast on November 12. The U.S. National Weather Service issued flood warnings for Skagit and Whatcom counties, and high wind warnings for most of northwestern Washington.[9][10]

Weather conditions[edit]

In Hope, British Columbia 277.5 millimetres (10.93 in) of rain fell from November 14 to 15.[11] At the peak of the rainstorm on November 15, Bellingham received 71 millimetres (2.8 in) of rain in a single day.[12] In total, 20 rainfall records were broken across British Columbia.[13]

Impacts[edit]

The combined closures of sections of Highway 99, Highway 1, Highway 7 Highway 3, and Highway 5 had the effect of cutting off road traffic between Metro Vancouver and the rest of Canada.[14] In response, the Canada Border Services Agency waived some border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic so that Canadians could travel between Metro Vancouver and the rest of Canada through the United States.[15]

According to BC Hydro, at least 60,000 customers were left without electricity by the night of November 15 across B.C.[16]

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District[edit]

On November 15, multiple mudslides occurred which washed out multiple sections of Duffey Lake Road located 42 kilometres south of Lillooet. Multiple cars were caught up in the debris field and as a result, one person was recovered deceased and 4 people remain missing. The whole section of Duffey Lake Road from Mount Curie to Lillooet was closed due to the multiple mudslides.[17]

British Columbia Interior[edit]

Sections of British Columbia Highway 1 (part of the Trans-Canada Highway) and the Coquihalla Highway (British Columbia Highway 5) near Hope were washed away, along with a parallel railroad.[18] On the Coquihalla Highway near Hope, an entire two-lane section was washed out by the overflowing Coquihalla River.[19] Highway 3 and Highway 99 were also closed due to flooding and landslides. On November 18, the Government of British Columbia in at a press conference, mentioned that the Coquihalla Highway (British Columbia Highway 5) between Hope and Merritt will be closed for months for repairs.[20]

A track washout caused the derailment of a Canadian National Railway-operated freight train 25 kilometers north of Hope, British Columbia.[21] No injuries were reported.[21]

On November 15, all 7,000 residents of Merritt were evacuated after the city's sewage treatment plant flooded and failed after the Coldwater River burst its banks.[22][23] Evacuees were instructed to go to either Kamloops or Kelowna.[24]

The community of Princeton, British Columbia remains under a local state of emergency as of November 16 after the Tulameen and Similkameen rivers burst their banks and caused localized flooding.[25]

Fraser Valley and Sumas Prairie[edit]

The Sumas Prairie had been created in the early 1920s by draining Sumas Lake, but on November 16, overflow from the Sumas[26] and Nooksack[27] rivers refilled the lake, forcing the evacuation of 1100 homes in Abbotsford.[28] The Sumas Prairie area was placed under catastrophic flood warning by that evening, with a substantial loss of livestock, including cattle and chickens, predicted.[29] The evacuation prompted the city of Abbotsford to open up an emergency evacuation centre located at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre.[30]

As of November 19, there remains a 100m long breach of the dikes by the Sumas River near the intersection of No. 4 Road and McDermott Road in Abbotsford. In order to stop the ongoing flooding of the Sumas Prairie, and enable repair of the affected sections of the dike, on November 19, contracting crews and the Canadian military began construction of a temporary 2.5km long levee along Highway 1 near No. 4 Road. As a consequence of this levee construction, 6 to 12 homes in the area were expropriated.[31]

Across the Fraser River near Agassiz, Highway 7 was closed due to multiple mudslides that trapped over 300 people.[32] The victims were airlifted to safety by helicopter after spending more than two nights trapped inside vehicles.[33] Harbour Air offered special flights from Harrison Lake to Downtown Vancouver for evacuated residents who were unable to use Highway 7.[34] Via Rail and Canadian National Railway operated an evacuation train from Hope to the Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.[35] A section of Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope reopened for limited westbound traffic on November 17.[36]

Major regional public transit routes in the area were negatively impacted by detours and closures of major thoroughfares. In the Central Fraser Valley, the 66 Fraser Valley Express which runs from Langley to Chilliwack via Highway 1 was shortened to run between Langley and Abbotsford due to the flooding of Highway 1.[37]

Metro Vancouver[edit]

In the city of Vancouver, the Burrard Bridge closed on November 15 after an unmoored barge threatened to collide with it. The bridge opened the following morning on November 16 after the barge grounded along the seawall.[38] Traffic in Richmond, British Columbia was heavily impacted by localized flooding such as on British Columbia Highway 99 near Westminster Highway.[39]

Despite strong winds, Vancouver International Airport reported only minor operational and traffic delays.[40] Passengers travelling by air were advised to prepare for additional delays.[40]

Vancouver Island[edit]

Major transportation routes were severely impacted in and out of Vancouver Island starting on November 15. British Columbia Highway 1 was closed in the morning of November 15 due to flooding and landslides, preventing travel from the provincial capital of Victoria to the city of Duncan.[41] Later, Two BC Ferries sailings between Nanaimo and Tsawwassen were cancelled mid-day due to strong winds.[41] Highway 1 was re-opened to single lane alternating traffic by the morning of November 16 but remains closed at night in order to facilitate repair work and removal of debris.[42][43] The highway is expected to undergo overnight closures for an additional five nights starting November 16. Additional sailings across Brentwood Bay are in place until the evening of November 17,[43] and cargo ferry service between Duke Point and Swartz Bay was added for November 18.[44][45] In the days following the highway closure and and amidst its restriction, Victoria and the lower Island has experienced gasoline shortages as gasoline is supplied to the lower Island from north of the highway closure.[46]

Washington state[edit]

Skagit River above flood levels in downtown Mount Vernon, Washington, on November 17

In Washington state, more than 158,000 people were affected by power outages and disruptions to other services.[47] A section of Interstate 5 was closed near Lake Samish south of Bellingham after being covered by a mudslide. The highway reopened on November 17 after the landslide was cleared.[48] Flooding of the Nooksack River basin in Whatcom County forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents and the closure of local schools.[49][50] In the city of Sumas, on the south side of the Canadian border near Abbotsford, an estimated 85 percent of homes were damaged by flooding.[51] A BNSF freight train with 12 cars derailed near Sumas on November 15 at the peak of the flooding.[52]

Skagit and Clallam counties also experienced major flooding events.[53] The Skagit River crested at 36.98 feet (11.27 m), near a record of 37.4 feet (11.4 m) set in 1990, but was held back in Mount Vernon by a downtown flood barrier installed in 2016.[54] The town of Hamilton was evacuated to shelters operated by the Red Cross on November 15.[55] In Clallam County, the Makah Reservation and Clallam Bay were cut off by a series of landslides that blocked sections of State Route 112 and U.S. Route 101.[56]

Flooding damaged the suspension bridge that provides access to the Grove of the Patriarchs in Mount Rainier National Park, forcing the park to close the grove until the bridge can be repaired or replaced.[57]

Casualties[edit]

At least one person was killed and ten others were hospitalized. The lone individual was killed by a mudslide along BC Highway 99 around 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of Vancouver, and just north of Pemberton.[58] 4 people are reported missing; however, more people may be unaccounted for.[59]

A man in Everson, Washington, was reported missing on November 15 after his truck was found after being swept away by floodwaters. A body was found two days later, but was not identified as the missing person.[60]

Aftermath and reactions[edit]

At a news conference on November 16, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming called the storm "unprecedented" and that the weather event was "the worst weather storm in a century".[61]

On November 17, the Canadian Armed Forces were dispatched to aid in disaster response efforts in British Columbia.[62] In addition, a group representing First Nations called for the provincial government to enact a provincial state of emergency for the weather event in order to enable easier access to those who are affected.[63] Later in the day, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced that a provincial state of emergency would be put in place and that travel restrictions would come into effect in order to protect the already‐crippled supply chain.[64]

Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued a state of emergency on November 15 covering 14 counties in Western Washington.[47]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Zussman, Richard (November 17, 2021). "B.C. declares state of emergency amid record-breaking floods". globalnews.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Pratt, Sean (November 16, 2021). "B.C. flooding cuts access to Port of Vancouver". The Western Producer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  3. ^ Baker, Rafferty (November 17, 2021). "Trucking industry working to get around catastrophic B.C. highway closures". CBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Chris Campbell, Chris Campbell (November 16, 2021). "Panic buying returns to Burnaby amid flood disaster supply woes". Burnaby Now. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Delvin, Megan (November 17, 2021). "Grocery stores running out of food in BC cities cut off by flooding (PHOTOS)". dailyhive.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  6. ^ White, Cindy (November 16, 2021). "Store shelves emptying as people panic buy due to highway closures". nsnews.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Grochowski, Sarah (November 12, 2021). "Heat dome, Pineapple Express, water spout: Extreme weather events a new normal in B.C." Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Browning, Paige; Oxley, Dyer (November 9, 2021). "Tornado warning startles Kitsap County as severe weather strikes western Washington". KUOW. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Gray, Jennifer (November 15, 2021). "Category 5 atmospheric river brings record-breaking river levels to the Pacific Northwest". CNN. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (November 12, 2021). "Atmospheric river is drenching Pacific Northwest as waterlogged pattern continues". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  11. ^ Canada, Environment and Climate Change (October 31, 2011). "Daily Data Report for November 2021 - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada". climate.weather.gc.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Tebor, Celina (November 16, 2021). "Atmospheric river slams Pacific Northwest; at least 1 person missing; schools and roads closed". Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Plana, Vincent (November 15, 2021). "Sunday's atmospheric river broke 20 rainfall records across BC". dailyhive.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  14. ^ McSheffrey, Elizabeth (November 15, 2021). "Access between Lower Mainland and rest of B.C. compromised as mudslide closes Highway 99". Global News. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "Some COVID-19 travel rules waived for Canadians stranded by B.C. floods". British Columbia. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  16. ^ Ali, Amir (November 15, 2021). "BC Hydro working to restore power to thousands of customers". dailyhive.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "RCMP report four people now missing in deadly mudslide north of Pemberton". https://www.squamishchief.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021. External link in |website= (help)
  18. ^ "Coquihalla Highway and sections of Highway 1 closed due to major flood damage". CBC News. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  19. ^ Peters, Jessica (November 15, 2021). "VIDEO: Section of Coquihalla Highway washes away in storm near Hope". pqbnews.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  20. ^ "https://twitter.com/richardzussman/status/1461483520052764674". Twitter. Retrieved November 19, 2021. External link in |title= (help)
  21. ^ a b Mangione, Kendra (November 16, 2021). "Track washout to blame for partial derailment of train in B.C.: CN Rail". bc.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  22. ^ Kotyk, Alyse (November 15, 2021). "B.C. flooding: Highways blocked, streets flooded, power out, schools closed, city evacuated". CTV News. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  23. ^ Hauser, Christine; Austen, Ian; Medina, Eduardo; Jiménez, Jesus (November 15, 2021). "Hundreds Rescued After Mudslides and Floods Pummel British Columbia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  24. ^ Karin, Larsen (November 15, 2021). "Entire city of Merritt, B.C., ordered to evacuate after flooding of wastewater treatment plant". CBC.
  25. ^ Watson, Bridgette (November 16, 2021). "No heat or potable water in Princeton, B.C., as locals brace for freezing temperatures after flood". Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  26. ^ Peters, Jessica (November 15, 2021). "Province shuts down Highway 1 at Abbotsford due to rising flood waters". The Abbotsford News.
  27. ^ Hauser, Christine; Chung, Christine (November 16, 2021). "Evacuations Continue After Mudslides in British Columbia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  28. ^ "Immediate evacuation order for Sumas Prairie due to landslide in Abbotsford". Abbotsford News. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  29. ^ Carrigg, David (November 16, 2021). "Catastrophic flood warning issued for Sumas Prairie as pump system set to fail". vancouversun.com. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  30. ^ Hopes, Vikki (November 14, 2021). "City of Abbotsford activates emergency operations centre due to flooding, mudslides". abbynews.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  31. ^ Hopes, Vikki. "Levee to be built in Abbotsford to hold back surging floodwaters from Highway 1". https://www.abbynews.com/. Retrieved November 19, 2021. External link in |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Plana, Vincent (November 15, 2021). "Vancouver cut off from rest of BC as extreme weather closes highways (PHOTOS, VIDEO)". Daily Hive. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  33. ^ McSheffrey, Elizabeth (November 16, 2021). "311 people and 27 pets rescued from Agassiz, B.C. mudslides". globalnews.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  34. ^ Louis, Adam (November 17, 2021). "B.C. Flood: Harbour Air offering flights out of Harrison Lake during floods". Agassiz-Harrison Observer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  35. ^ Watson, Bridgette (November 17, 2021). "Overnight evacuation train brings more than 150 stranded travellers from Hope, B.C., to Vancouver". CBC.ca. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  36. ^ "Highway 7 reopening for westbound travellers stranded in Hope" (Press release). British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  37. ^ "Customer Advisory #66 Highway Closure". bctransit.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  38. ^ "Burrard Street Bridge reopens after stray barge causes closure | News". dailyhive.com. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  39. ^ Campbell, Alan (November 15, 2021). "Video: Flooding closes Highway 99 at Westminster Highway in Richmond". richmond-news.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  40. ^ a b Kergin, Brendan (November 16, 2021). "Flooding and high winds cause chaos for Metro Vancouver travel". vancouverisawesome.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Storm causes road closures, cancellations for BC Ferries, BC transit". vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  42. ^ Patterson, Mike (November 16, 2021). "Malahat Highway to Reopen This Morning". Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  43. ^ a b "BC Ferries maintains extra Brentwood Bay sailings due to Malahat closures". November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  44. ^ "News Release | BC Ferries Adds Extra Sailings Between Swartz Bay and Duke Point". www.bcferries.com.
  45. ^ "BC Ferries to run extra cargo sailing between Duke Point, Swartz Bay on Thursday". CHEK. November 17, 2021.
  46. ^ "Greater Victoria gas stations see long lineups as supplies run low due to Malahat closures". November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  47. ^ a b Hernandez, Joe (November 16, 2021). "Heavy rains bring flooding and mudslides to the Pacific Northwest and Canada". NPR. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  48. ^ "Northbound I-5 near Bellingham reopens after closure caused by landslides". KIRO 7 News Seattle. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  49. ^ Shirley, Julie (November 15, 2021). "These Whatcom schools are closed Tuesday due to flooding; I-5 also closed". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  50. ^ Mittendorf, Robert (November 17, 2021). "Gov. Inslee promises help for Whatcom flood recovery and fight against climate change". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  51. ^ Clarridge, Christine (November 17, 2021). "Sumas residents turn to repairs as officials monitor flooding in Canada". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  52. ^ "Storm impacts: Whatcom County remains in rescue and response phase following severe flooding". KING 5 News. November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  53. ^ Cappucci, Matthew (November 15, 2021). "Atmospheric river slams western Washington with record rains, flooding and high winds". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  54. ^ Carter, Mike; Lindblom, Mike (November 16, 2021). "Mount Vernon avoids major flooding as Skagit River crests at near-record high". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  55. ^ Stone, Brandon (November 15, 2021). "Hamilton evacuees waiting out the storm". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  56. ^ Zhou, Amanda (November 17, 2021). "Landslides block most roads in and out of Makah Reservation". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  57. ^ "Mount Rainier National Park Announces Temporary Closure of Grove of the Patriarchs". Mount Rainier National Park (U.S. National Park Service). November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  58. ^ Schmunk, Rhianna (November 16, 2021). "1 confirmed dead as rescue teams continue searching debris from B.C. mudslide". CBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  59. ^ "No end in sight to mounting devastation caused by B.C. storm". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  60. ^ Pratt, Denver (November 17, 2021). "Body of missing Whatcom man swept away in floodwaters believed to be found Wednesday". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  61. ^ Vasquez-Peddie, Anthony (November 16, 2021). "One confirmed dead in B.C. mudslide after province's 'worst weather storm in a century'". ctvnews.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  62. ^ "Canada sending military personnel to help with BC floods". seattletimes.com. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  63. ^ Mangione, Kendra (November 17, 2021). "Will B.C. floods prompt a provincial state of emergency? First Nations call for action; premier to speak". bc.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  64. ^ Zussman, Richard (November 17, 2021). "B.C. declares state of emergency amid record-breaking floods". globalnews.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
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