Saint John River water levels rising after weekend of heavy rain

CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell says temperatures are mild in parts of the west and cooler in eastern areas of the Maritimes on Monday.

Parts of the lower Saint John River system may reach flood stage later this week due to heavy rain this past weekend.

Rain reports

A widespread rainfall of 20-to-50 mm for the Maritimes occurred over the weekend.

Higher rain totals were reported in a number of areas, including parts of the southwest of Nova Scotia, which received 48 to 68 mm of rain. The Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia got 60 to 75 mm of rain. An observer in the Baddeck area reported a total of 89 mm.

A few communities in southern New Brunswick reported rain totals of near and over 60 mm. The Saint John Airport reported a total of 71 mm.

Those rain reports are from a collection of weather station and volunteer observers that are part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network.

Saint John River situation

The following is based on information available from River Watch New Brunswick. The very latest on the situation can be found at their website.

A flood warning has been issued for the Gagetown area of the Saint John River. Water levels are rising at that location and are currently above the watch stage of 3.6 metres. A flood warning issued by River Watch New Brunswick means, “A warning means an event is certain or is IMMINENT. Measures should be taken to safeguard life and property IMMEDIATELY. Warning water level is 0.5 metre below flood.”

The area is currently forecast to reach the flood stage of 4.0 metres on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Some recession of the water level is then forecast for Friday and Saturday.

The Jemseg area is forecast to reach warning stage on Wednesday and Thursday. The Quispamsis-Saint John area watch stage on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Rain outlook for the week

A cold front is expected to cross the Maritimes Tuesday night through Wednesday morning. Some light rain and showers can be expected to accompany the front. Rain totals aren’t projected to be much higher than a few to several millimetres.

After that, a broad, slow moving area of low pressure is expected to move into the Maritimes Friday into the weekend. Looks like that will start with some showers developing in New Brunswick on Friday. Then patchy rain, drizzle, and fog for the Maritimes on Saturday. A chance of some lingering rain or showers for Sunday.

The variance in long range forecast models for the weekend weather makes it difficult to project possible rain amounts this far out. That is something that will come into more focus after the midweek rain and showers have passed.