A Brief History of the Christmas Flood of 1964 in the Tri-Cities.
The 1964 flood was caused by the perfect storm, not only impacted the Tri-Cities but all of the Northwest from northern California, most of Oregon and Washington. Passes were closed, snow fell in every lowland valley, the melt was sudden, and the torrential rain was so heavy automobiles windshield wiper were ineffectual to clear the window to even drive. Many lost their lives and thousands were left homeless that Christmas.
The first snow flurries came early in 1964. It was late fall before winter was even announced. The light snow fell and started an early winter on the night of November 12th, in Kennewick, Washington. By the 16th, the mercury had dropped to 24 degrees. Everything began to freeze. The ground and the trees covered with light snow became frozen. The plumbers were busy thawing frozen pipes around town in those days. The freeze would stay and the snow would begin to pill up on the cars, houses, streets and hills south and west of the city. The Tri-City Herald headline on December 20th was “Tri-City Cold Snap is Mild Compared with Frigid 1919” It was cold, but now there was snow. By the next day the 21st, an additional 16.5 inches of snow dropped onto the foot that was already on the ground. With 2 feet on the ground, children were in heaven. For many no school, for some sledding, and for a few boys, they would take their motorcycles for a spin in the white stuff. What came next was known as the “Silver Thaw”. A Chinook wind, also known as the pineapple express, from the southwest on the 22nd would thaw out the Tri-Cities in two days. The temperature rose rapidly to 55 degrees and the snow melted quickly. There was more rain and water than what could be absorbed by the partially frozen ground. The water ran off the Horse Heaven Hills down Zintel Canyon and Conway Canyon flooding low land Kennewick all the way out to Finley. Water gathered and became a small lake at the corner of Union Street and 10th Avenue near where the owner of this cache live was two feet deep as the water backed up from flowing down the head waters of Conway Canyon. So much for a white Christmas, but for many a damp miserable mess. For further information about the 1964 flood see the Tri-City Herald microfiche archives at the Mid-Columbia Library on South Union Kennewick, Washington for the dates from December 20th through 25th of 1964. There are also several books available on the flood.
Stealth is required. Many muggers in the area. Bring your own pen.
This cache is place where water still flows and can be seen at the drainage basin of Conway Canyon. Much of the steam that flows through Conway Canyon is covered with concrete and flows under ground and is known as the “City of Kennewick Municipal Storm Water System: Conway Canyon.”