Flood Details - 1963-11-08 - 1963-11-10

Flood damage resulting from the overflowing of water from the spillway of Jones Lake occurred in Moncton on November 9th and 10th. The level of the lake, located in the west end of the city, rose considerably due to heavy rainfall on the 8th and 9th. Traffic over a bridge near the site was rerouted for 18 hours when the overflow began. During the peak of the high tide on the 9th, water was backed up to within 0.9 meters of the top of the Jones Lake spillway. No estimate of damage was available but some homes in the area reported flooded basements. Several residents moved their furniture as a precautionary measure. During the peak of the flooding the Main Street bridge was completely submerged. Route 2, which leads from Moncton to Saint John, was cut due to water mid afternoon on the 9th until the morning of the 10th. Several wharves in the Shediac area were under water for a short time during the 9th and 10th, and along the coast minor flooding of several roads was observed. In the Chatham and Newcastle areas, homes and businesses reported some basement flooding on November 9th. The ferry Romeo and Juliet went off duty on the 8th in Chatham and did not return to service until the 10th due to the high waters. In the Saint John River basin, at points as far apart as Hartland and Maugerville, the river level was nearing spring freshet levels. The rapid rise in water level had marooned cattle on river islands in the Kingsclear area near Fredericton. Farmers and cattlemen completed the removal of about 1,200 head by late on the 11th. Most of the cattle were removed from the islands by a Department of Public Works ferry.

Environment Canada rainfall totals for November 7th, 8th and 9th: Moncton: 84.3 mm Miramichi: 63.8 mm Fredericton: 53.9 mm Sackville: 50.0 mm Woodstock: 40.1 mm

No major flood related damages were reported.