Another day of sunshine and double-digit temperatures along the St. John River valley Sunday has some concerned about the spring thaw.
Ice holds beneath the world’s longest covered bridge in Hartland, N.B., for now. With warmer days and nights ahead, that surface is about to become unpredictable.
"Coming up this week, you might see some things accelerate a little bit. They're calling for some higher (temperatures) and a couple of nights of above freezing temperatures, so things could get going here soon," said Paul Bradley of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization.
Much of the more than 600-kilometre St. John River is still bound by ice. That ice is starting its annual retreat, and those who live and work along the waterway are beginning their annual watch on the iceof the water and the weather.
"The amount of times that the ice piled up in the river this year, it could be bad if we get a lot of rain,” said woodlot owner Fred Taylor.
The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization has been monitoring the annual melt for several weeks. Ice on the St. John River’s tributaries is already breaking up and moving.
"As long as there's ice in the system, there's always the risk of ice-jam flooding anywhere,” said Bradley. “So until the ice comes out of the system, that's one problem, and usually by the time the ice is out the water levels are high."
The EMO says an above normal amount of snow remains throughout much of Northern New Brunswick, but that snow holds a below average amount of water. Officials are hoping the river and its tributaries can handle it.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Andy Campbell
