Heavy surf in the Bay of Fundy thrashes Saint John coastline

The surf is up in New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy is angry — all thanks to a spring storm moving through the province.

Lots of rain and gusty winds came along with the storm knocking out power for many residents.

But more notably on Friday, the high tides and pounding surf were drawing peoples’ attention and concern.

READ MORE: Filmmaker captures ‘drastically different’ surfing experience near Saint John

In east Saint John, the breakwater along Red Head Road withstood nearly all it could handle with the heavy surf — something not seen to such an extent very often.

The road was closed for a brief period while the area was cleaned up.

There had been warnings of the potential for storm surges and higher than usual tides along the Fundy coast, which is saying something for the body of water that boasts the highest tides in the world.

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Resident Faith James, who lives just a short distance from the breakwater, says it’s as fierce as she has seen in the last few years.

“I’ve never seen it back up as it as it is now,” James said, adding that there are definitely two sides to the Bay of Fundy.

“Some nights we come out here and it’s so beautiful and it’s so calm and other nights you look at it and we watch the boats and its dangerous,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Some nights we come out here and it's so beautiful and it's so calm and other nights you look at it and we watch the boats and its dangerous," she said.

Earlier in the day on the other side of town, the bay was showing it’s strength along Saints Rest beach drawing people out to take in the sights.

The tides and surf are no laughing matter — several residents are concerned about losing their homes to erosion.

“So the Bay of Fundy we’re dealing with is the enemy here on our problem,” said McLaren’s Beach Road resident Morton McAllister.

READ MORE: Saint John residents concerned about erosion near homes must wait for new study

McAllister, who has lived in the same house more than five decades, says the tides seem to be getting higher, which works against his homes and those around them.

“The tide is eroding the beach and when the tide takes out land on the beach we just slide into it,” McAllister said.

Still there are those who just can’t stay away even in the event of a potential storm surge.

“I always like to come down and watch the waves,” Carrie Riggs said.