After a nasty winter storm, the forecast holds rain and double-digit temperatures, prompting some New Brunswick residents to go on flood watch.
Saint John’s south end is low-lying and close to the water. With a winter’s worth of snow to melt, the prospect of rain has many in the area worried.
“Every time there is a snowstorm, this manhole never gets cleared out, so with the rain coming, it kind of needs to be done," says Saint John resident Travis Hogan.
The St. John River is still covered with ice but the ice is starting to show signs of imminent retreat; this weekend’s weather could hasten that.
“If the weather is warmer than usual there will be melting,” says New Brunswick Environment Minister Danny Soucy. “If it's raining, there will be more water flowing, so again, people need to be watching what's happening around them."
City crews are still digging out in Moncton after Wednesday’s storm. While city crews are doing what they can to prevent flooding, they say there is a positive side to the warmer temperatures.
“Right now, melting is going to be helpful,” says Jeff Scott of the City of Moncton. “It'll take a lot of the high snow banks and bring them down in height, it's going to help visibility around the corners and as far as any other potential issues, we'll just see how it develops."
Officials in all three Maritime provinces say people living along waterways may want to protect their personal property and secure anything that could float away if waters do rise suddenly.
Officials also say personal safety should be top priority.
“We certainly recommend that people clear out their drains, make sure the water can get away from their foundations and on the street as well, so they don't have water backing up into their driveways and onto their properties," says Sean Irvine of the Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organization.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
