BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor Public Works Department has issued a warning that minor flooding is possible along Kenduskeag Stream this weekend.
According to Public Works Director Dana Wardwell, a high tide Thursday already caused minor flooding along the west side of Kenduskeag Plaza, resulting in about 8 inches of water near the lower section of the parking garage and causing water to back up into catch basins.
“The same can be expected over the weekend,” he said. “Please be aware of this condition and take precaution if you are located in areas normally affected by exceptionally high tides.”
According to the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, the Penobscot River in Bangor reached 11.12 feet at approximately 11 a.m. Thursday and will reach 9.3 feet at approximately 11 p.m. Saturday.
Action stage for the river is 11 feet, and flood stage is 11.6 feet.
Action stage means there is not a flood, but there may be some minor impact, including spillover into storm sewers and low-lying areas, said Chris Norcross, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Caribou.
It’s still too soon to accurately predict water levels for the remainder of the weekend, he said Friday.
High tide Friday was at 11:34 a.m. and are predicted at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, 12:26 p.m. Saturday, 12:52 a.m. Sunday and 1:17 p.m. Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mike Kistner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, said ice could have an effect on water levels because ice is less dense than water and will float slightly higher than the regular water level.
Follow Evan Belanger on Twitter at @evanbelanger.