Stories from Tri-City News headlines of decades past is a recurring feature as the publication approaches its 40th anniversary in 2024.
Weather terms like “heat dome” and “Pineapple Express” have become an increasing part of our daily conversation, especially as meteorological conditions intensify because of climate change.
But there were big storms 30 years ago.
In the late summer of 1993, fierce and powerful windstorm knocked down trees, damaged homes, blocked streets and railway lines in Port Moody and disrupted power throughout the Tri-Cities.
Const. Bob Lindsay of Port Moody Police said the department received more than 50 9-1-1 calls in an hour after the brief storm.
Coquitlam authorities had to deal with downed streetlights along Palmer Avenue and the trails in Mundy Park were closed because of falling branches.
In Port Coquitlam, trees fell on the PoCo trail, tennis courts and other locations.
Motorists had to go around fallen trees on the Barnet and Lougheed highways as well as several local roads and blowing sand in the Dominion Triangle area of Port Coquitlam reduced visibility.
But nowhere was the storm’s ferocity more apparent than the 100-foot hemlock that toppled onto a home Port Moody, destroying a solarium and spooking the family dog.
“It was like a big explosion,” the home’s owner told the Tri-City News. “It happened so quickly, it just blew up.”
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
