FREDERICTON - With the weather forecast calling for more snow and cold temperatures, provincial officials in New Brunswick are optimistic the threat of flooding in the St. John River basin will ease in the days ahead.
''We're expecting colder, dryer air for the remainder of the week,'' said Karl Wilmot, co-ordinator of River Watch 2009, an agency that monitors river levels throughout the province.
''Hopefully, river levels will remain stable and start dropping.''
Temperatures were expected to fall to -5 C overnight, then rise to about 8 C during the day.
That freeze-thaw cycle helps keep water levels from rising because the freezing at night allows water already in the valley to drain into the Bay of Fundy.
Still, water levels were expected to remain a half-metre above flood level in the Jemseg area, southeast of Fredericton, and close to the 4.8-metre flood level at Sheffield-Lakeville Corner.
Wilmot said there were no reports of major flood damage on the weekend.
Still, the Jemseg Ferry Road remained submerged Sunday afternoon, and there was water on Route 105 near Lakeville Corner.
Jemseg resident Brenda Dykeman said the water levels near her home had dropped a bit on Sunday.
She said two families have to travel through a field to reach their homes because their driveways have been submerged.
