April 20, 2014 - 6:10 AM
PERTH-ANDOVER, N.B. - The New Brunswick village of Perth-Andover is closely watching the St. John River this morning after a massive ice jam moved through the Grand Falls dam north of the community and joined another patch of ice further downstream.
Village spokeswoman Justine Waldeck says water levels have been rising this morning and are being monitored to see if a mandatory evacuation of the community will be required.
A volunteer evacuation order that was issued Wednesday remains in effect until officials have a clearer picture of the situation, which should be later today.
There are fears the ice jam might cause serious flooding in the community which was hit hard by floods just two years ago.
New Brunswickers have been on edge for days as ice-choked rivers threaten to spill their banks.
River Watch said water levels were expected to remain high for the next few days and above flood stage in some areas, including Fredericton, Maugerville, Jemseg, Grand Lake, Sheffield and Lakeville Corner.
It was also keeping a close eye on several ice jams along the St. John River at Woodstock and the Nashwaak River.
Water levels were expected to reach flood stage Sunday in the Quispamsis and Saint John areas.
In Quebec, many residents breathed a sigh of relief as the water levels of many rivers continued to drop.
There was one exception in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, where about 50 homes in La Matapedia were evacuated as a precaution because of an ice jam on a local river.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014