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Winds ease just in time to prevent flooding in 'Bay

Boundary Bay and Beach Grove avoided flooding over the weekend with a little help from Mother Nature.

Boundary Bay and Beach Grove avoided flooding over the weekend with a little help from Mother Nature.

Delta issued a storm surge flood warning for the Tsawwassen neighbourhoods last Thursday and into the weekend with the forecast calling for heavy rain and winds gusting to 90 km/h.

Delta chief administrative officer George Harvie said he was on the beach at 4 a.m. Sunday and the winds were "extremely strong."

The situation was monitored at municipal hall starting at 5 a.m. by staff and a meteorologist with a concern that an impending high tide would mean flooding.

However, after 5: 15 a.m., Harvie said, the wind speeds in the area began to drop rapidly. The wind changed direction and by high tide at around 7: 50 a.m. was no longer a factor.

Harvie said it was a fortunate turn of events. Had the wind not changed direction there could have been flooding in Beach Grove and Boundary Bay.

There was some isolated flooding in Beach Grove on Thursday.

Both the flood and storm advisories were lifted by 8 a.m. Sunday and the Emergency Operations Centre was closed.

However, municipal engineering staff continued to monitor tide levels and weather conditions.

Delta police and fire crews, along with municipal workers, were also on standby throughout the neighbourhoods in case conditions worsened.

"We were prepared, which is our responsibility," Harvie said.

Mayor Lois Jackson thanked fire, police and engineering crews for taking the necessary response measures.

Harvie said storm season is just getting started and Delta will be keeping an eye on weather conditions, especially around higher tides. He said another series of high tides is expected around Christmas.

jkerr@delta-optimist.com