St. Andrews, N.B., residents survey storm surge damage, prepare for similar weekend threat
The threat of a storm surge this weekend, similar to what crashed upon shore just days ago in St. Andrews, N.B., has seaside residents on edge.
“It was pretty dramatic on Wednesday,” said Jeffrey Irving, who captured video of waves crashing into the town’s Market Square boardwalk and properties near Pendlebury Lighthouse.
“It was just the right combination of wind, high tide,” said Irving.
Saturday’s forecast is calling for more of the same.
CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell said peak wind gusts could reach around 90 km/h along the coast between Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening. The storm will arrive at near high astronomical tides. Due to large waves and gusty wind, water levels during Saturday afternoon’s high tide could surpass the usual mark.
High tide in St. Andrews on Saturday afternoon is set to hit 7.6 metres at 1:14 p.m.
“If the winds hit what they potentially can, unfortunately this next storm could have even more impact,” said St. Andrews Mayor Brad Henderson on Friday, noting how Wednesday’s storm caused local flooding, erosion, and road damage.
Staff from Parks Canada examined storm surge damage around the St. Andrews Blockhouse site on Friday, caused by Wednesday’s storm as well as severe weather in mid-December.
Wednesday’s storm surge led to significant damage on the road leading from St. Andrews to Ministers Island.
“There are some houses here in town that are multi-million dollar homes and they were surrounded by water the other day, and that’s a bit of a scary proposition for those homeowners,” said David Welch, who operated a whale watching company on Passamaquoddy Bay for two decades. “What we’ve seen this winter so far, and what is potentially coming (Saturday) is pretty well unprecedented as far as its magnitude.”
“We could see the wharf underwater for short periods of time.”
The St. Andrews wharf will be closed on Saturday afternoon.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kalin Mitchell.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police release bodycam video of officer-involved incident at Hindu temple protest in Brampton, Ont.
Police say an officer who forcefully removed a 'weapon' from a protester outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton was acting 'within the lawful execution of his duties' after bystander video of the incident circulated widely online.
Some Scotiabank users facing 'intermittent' access to banking days after scheduled maintenance
Scotiabank users say they are having issues using their bank’s services following a scheduled maintenance period that ended days ago.
W5 Investigates Car security investigation: How W5 'stole' a car using a device we ordered online
In part two of a three-part series into how thieves are able to drive off with modern vehicles so easily, CTV W5 correspondent Jon Woodward uses a device flagged by police to easily clone a car key.
'Countless lives were at risk:' 8 charged, including teen wanted in deadly home invasion, after West Queen West gun battle
A teenage boy arrested along with more than 20 others following a gun battle in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood was wanted in connection with a deadly home invasion in Etobicoke back in April, Toronto police say.
Everything is under US$20 at Amazon's newest store
Amazon is targeting retail rivals Shein, Temu and TikTok Shop with a new deeply discounted storefront that sells a wide array of products for US$20 or less.
Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on
There are certain phrases that Wachuka Gichohi finds difficult to hear after enduring four years of living with long COVID, marked by debilitating fatigue, pain, panic attacks and other symptoms so severe she feared she would die overnight.
Sandy Hook families help The Onion buy Infowars
The satirical news publication The Onion won the bidding for Alex Jones' Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than US$1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax.
California teenager admits to making hundreds of hoax emergency calls
A California teenager has admitted to making hundreds of swatting calls — hoax emergency calls — over a two-year period, creating 'fear and chaos' when police responded to his false reports of bomb threats and mass shootings at schools, homes and houses of worship, federal prosecutors said.
A look at how much mail Canada Post delivers, amid a strike notice
Amid a potential postal worker strike, here’s a look at how many letters and parcels the corporation delivers and how those numbers have changed in the internet age.