Watershed Conditions Statements
March 09, 2018
Spring Outlook
March 9, 2018 –The winter of 2017-18 has been one of wide variations and periods of record cold. First snow on the ground to start this winter was relatively early at the beginning of November but little more fell until after December 28 followed by the onset of the record cold temperatures including -30 degrees on January 1. After ten days of frigid temperatures, a few days of warm temperatures reduced the snow cover significantly. That warm spell ended with a flash freeze. Precipitation in all its forms and widely varying temperatures continued through January into mid-February. Since February 19,…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
February 16, 2018
Warmer Temperatures and Rain Could Cause Unsafe Conditions on Rivers and Lakes Throughout Rideau Watershed
February 16, 2018 – Significant rainfall forecast for Monday and Tuesday along with melting snow can be expected to cause river flows and lake levels to rise. Going on iced over waterbodies is not advisable for the next several days until levels decline and colder temperatures can restore the integrity of the ice. As the snowmelt and rain runoff moves through the Rideau system, the ice cover can be expected to shift and, in some places, break up. This could lead to ice jamming at culverts and bridges which could cause localized flooding. Ponding water on the surface will make…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
January 18, 2018
Water Safety: Another January Thaw Brings Unsafe Conditions on Rivers and Lakes Throughout Rideau Watershed
January 18, 2018 – Temperatures around the freezing point through the weekend and rain early next week will once again cause the loss of much of the snow cover and unstable ice conditions in the Rideau Valley. As the snowmelt and rain runoff moves through the Rideau system, the ice cover will be shifting and, in some places, breaking up. Water can be expected to pond on top of the ice. Going on ice covered water bodies is not advisable for the next several days. Slightly more snow on the ground in the upper watershed west of Smiths Falls and more…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
January 12, 2018 – With unusually warm temperatures melting much of the snow cover, water levels are rising throughout the Rideau watershed bringing on unstable ice conditions. Levels can be expected to continue to rise through the day until a forecast rapid freeze occurs mid-afternoon. In faster flowing stream sections, ice has broken up and been moved downstream and there is the potential for ice jamming that could cause localized high water situations. On lakes and flat stream sections, the ice will have been lifted by the increased water levels and have meltwater ponded on the surface. As temperatures drop,…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
November 03, 2017
More Rain Forecast for Sunday
November 3, 2017 – Rain forecast for Sunday could raise water levels again. In the order of 25 to 30 millimetres of rain fell on the Rideau watershed yesterday and this morning, less than was forecast. The rain was not enough to raise water levels significantly. Rain now forecast for Sunday has the potential to be enough to raise the already elevated flows. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry meteorologists have forecast 10 to 25 mm of rain on Sunday which could increase to a total of 40 to 75 mm if thunderstorms occur on Sunday night. The result…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
October 30, 2017
Minor Flooding of Low-Lying Areas the Result of Heavy Rains
Rainfall over the last three days from 70 to 100 millimetres has caused water levels typically seen in the spring in the Rideau watershed. Flows rose dramatically from what they were going into the weekend after very little rain through September and most of October. Operation of the Long Island Dam by Parks Canada staff slowed the increase of levels on the Long Reach. However, access roads to communities on the Rideau near Kemptville may still be threatened as the water from upstream passes through the system. In Perth in the Tay Subwatershed, flooding has so far been limited to…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
