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
Southern California wildfire destroys many structures; governor declares state of emergency
A wildfire whipped up by extreme winds swept through a Los Angeles hillside dotted with celebrity residences Tuesday, burning homes and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
Trump is open to using 'economic force' to acquire Canada; Trudeau responds
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 'there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States,' on the same day U.S. president-elect Donald Trump declared that he’s open to using 'economic force' to acquire Canada.
A B.C. mom's real-life nightmare and the search to find her trafficked daughter
A Vancouver island mom shares the story of what happened to her teenaged daughter – and a warning for other parents about sex trafficking.
Liberal leadership hopeful Frank Baylis noncommittal on eliminating consumer carbon tax
Liberal leadership hopeful Frank Baylis says eliminating the consumer carbon tax alone will not 'solve the affordability issue for Canadians.'
Canadian naval vessel shadowed by Chinese war ship in the East China Sea
CTV National News is on board the HMCS Ottawa, embedded with Canadian Navy personnel and currently documenting their work in the East China Sea – a region where China is increasingly flexing its maritime muscle. This is the first of a series of dispatches from the ship.
Patient dies in waiting room at Winnipeg hospital
An investigation is underway after a patient waiting for care died in the waiting room at a Winnipeg hospital Tuesday morning.
Limit coffee-drinking to this time window to lower early death risk, study suggests
Drinking coffee has repeatedly been linked with better heart health and prolonged life. But the benefits of coffee consumption could depend on when you drink it, new research has found.
B.C. 'childbirth activist' charged with manslaughter after newborn's death
A British Columbia woman who was under investigation for offering unauthorized midwifery services is now charged with manslaughter following the death of a newborn baby early last year.
Man who exploded Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI, police say
The highly decorated soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI including ChatGPT to help plan the attack, Las Vegas police said Tuesday.