6 hours Ago By Joanne Laucius
It’s too soon to breathe a sigh of relief about spring flooding. Water levels and flows along the main stem of the Ottawa River “are susceptible to increase and may exceed flood levels in some flood prone areas, depending on the weather,” the agency responsible for monitoring levels on the river has warned. Warm temperatures and heavy rainfall may lead to levels and flows exceeding flood levels in some locations, the Ottawa River Regulating Committee said in a message dated April 22.
Affected areas may range from Mattawa to the Montreal region. “Residents are advised to monitor the river conditions forecast on our website and to consult the flood-related information provided by their respective provincial authorities over the next few weeks.” During the spring freshet period, the regulating committee continuously monitors conditions at all points along the river and uses weather forecasts to develop river conditions forecasts.
This year, the spring freshet stared in mid-March when warm temperatures, combined with rain, started the snow melt across the Ottawa River basin. By early to mid-April, the snow cover had essentially disappeared from the southeastern part of the basin and along the valley portions of the Ottawa River and its tributaries, said the regulating committee. But elsewhere, spring runoff is increasing as normal spring temperatures are melting the snow cover.
Environment Canada is calling for a chance of showers every day from April 24 to 27. On April 11, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority said the snowpack melt is expected to continue over the new few weeks, adding that it was still too early to forecast peak river conditions, which are dependent on snowmelt and rainfall volume and timing. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority said on April 17 that a flood watch was being maintained within the Rideau Upper Watershed lakes due to continuing elevated water levels and flows.
“With the recent rainfall and melt, limited capacity remains to absorb further runoff, which increases the risk of localized flooding in low-lying areas (especially around Bobs Lake and Christie Lake),” said the RVCA. Based on the most recent snow surveys, no significant snowpack remains within the Rideau Valley Watershed. However, soils are saturated and may still be responsive to further rainfall, said the RVCA.
The Ottawa River Regulating Committee said it won’t publish additional press releases regarding spring flooding, and urged residents in flood-prone areas to monitor its forecasts. Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. RelatedOttawa parents test a new school commute to keep kids safeBlack public servants to appeal court decision dismissing $2.
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