Flood Details - 1981-08-15 - 1981-08-16

A heavy rainstorm hit the southern portion of the Province resulting in washouts of roads and culverts and flooded basements. Saint John Area: In Saint John, flooding was reported in Glen Falls along Rothesay Avenue and on Old Black River Road. In East Saint John, there was extensive damage to road shoulders and driveways. The Village of Westfield was reported to be the hardest hit area with washed out roads and culverts, and flooded basements. Most of the damage was reported to be on Mallard Drive, La Croix Drive, MacLean Road, Backland Road and Sunnyside Drive. The CN-CP railway line on the Saint John River Road at Westfield Crescent was extensively eroded. No major flood damage was reported in other parts of the Province.

Rainfall of 43.2 mm and 59 mm were recorded respectively at Fredericton and Moncton. Saint John Area: At Saint John, the weather office reported a total rainfall of 136.6 millimetres. The rainfall of 87.4 millimetres on August 16 broke a record of 55.1 millimetres set in 1930. The rainfall for the month had totaled 165.9 millimetres to August 17, whereas the usual amount for the month is 98.8 millimetres. The record for the month is 264.6 millimetres which occurred in 1922.

The Mayor of Westfield estimated the flood damage at $100 000. The New Brunswick Electric Power Commission reported a number of areas in the Province had experienced power interruptions, and New Brunswick Tel reported that seven exchanges in the southern part of the Province were unable to make long distance calls. The CN-CP railways experienced some delays as a result of the washouts.