Date: November 29, 2008

Location: St. John’s

Easting: 370700

Northing: 5267300

Latitude: 47° 34′ 00″ N

Longitude: 52° 41′ 00″ W

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Source: CBC web site and other sources

After a protracted period of wet weather an intense rain storm hit the NE Avalon on the evening of November 29. 100 mm of rain fell on the day, with most of this in a three-hour period.

Roads were closed and some basements flooded. Most damage was to transportation infrastructure, with washouts of road shoulders common. The worst hit areas were South Side Road and Shea Heights but damage was widespread. Quidi Vidi Lake overflowed its normal levels, blocking roads in several places and flooding the boathouse. Rennies River burst its banks and flooded the King George V soccer field causing damage to the artificial turf. Later evaluation indicated that the entire turf surface was so severely damaged that it needed to be replaced, with an estimated cost of $500,000.

The downtown area of St. John’s was also affected with BeckÕs Cove Road closed to traffic, as was the west end of Water Street from the lower part of Hamilton Avenue. The off-ramp from Pitts Memorial Drive to Water Street was also closed as running water rushed down the ramp.

Some damage was experienced elsewhere in the NE Avalon, with reports of manhole covers being forced off in Harbour Grace.