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Close to a perfect storm

Letters

Editor:

Last Wednesday afternoon, a rapidly falling barometer heralded the approach of an intense Pacific storm. By 9 p.m. the barometer was reading an extreme 30 points below normal and Environment Canada was forecasting hurricane force outflow winds in Howe Sound. By 11 p.m. the wind was rising with the barometer still falling. On Thursday morning, one of the year’s highest tides was predicted and combined with such violent weather it could be damaging.

But at 3 a.m. the wind was decreasing and by 8 a.m. the barometer had risen 10 points. At the 10 a.m. high tide of 16.4 feet (5.0 metres) the outflow wind was down to 10 knots (19km/h) and small waves washed close the top of the Gibsons Harbour breakwater. While atmospheric pressure was still much below normal, which raised the tide well above its predicted height, the lower wind and waves meant there was no damage.

If this storm centre had arrived just a few hours later it would likely have sent three-foot (0.9 metre) waves over the breakwater and into the moorage of some 500 boats. With rising sea levels expected, what measures are being planned to safeguard this valuable community asset from a future “perfect storm”?

John Roper, P.Eng. (Retired), Gibsons