Watershed Conditions Statements
August 12, 2016
Continued Lack of Rain Causes “Severe” Drought Condition
Based on the 30 Day Precipitation drought indicator, the Rideau River Watershed is in the “Severe” Drought category. There has been no rain recorded at the Ottawa Airport since July 25. Some rain has been recorded at other locations in and around the watershed but there have not been the several days of rain needed to restore the deficit that has accumulated. There is rain forecast through Friday and Saturday but that is expected as thunderstorms which will not produce the needed general rain over the whole watershed. Warm weather is forecast to continue through next week which will cause…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
August 03, 2016
“Moderate” Drought Conditions Persist into August
With little rain over the last two weeks, the Moderate Drought conditions continue in the Rideau watershed. The accumulated precipitation over the last 90 days is less than 60% of the long term average for this time of year which is the threshold for Moderate Drought. No significant rain is presently in weather forecasts for the next week but hot temperatures are. This means that evaporation will be a significant component of the water level decline process throughout the watershed.
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Watershed Conditions Statements
June 30, 2016
Drought Condition Continues at Moderate
The precipitation indicator for Moderate Drought of 60% of normal was reached last Sunday. Rainfall since then has had a minimal impact and conditions remain very dry. Flows in the Rideau River at Ottawa are at 25% of normal for the time of year. Two of the major tributary streams, Jock River and Kemptville Creek, are both flowing at about 6% of normal. The Tay River is in relatively better shape benefitting from outflow from Bobs Lake, one of the Rideau Canal reservoir lakes. Smaller streams are intermittent or dry and aquatic habitat is compromised for all species.
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Watershed Conditions Statements
June 23, 2016
Drought Expected to become Moderately Severe
With no rain until Monday in weather forecasts, it is expected that the drought status for the Rideau River watershed will pass the threshold from Minor to Moderate Severity by Sunday. The amount of rain forecast for Monday will do little to reverse the trend of deepening drought. Flows in the Rideau River at Ottawa are 15% of normal for the time of year. Larger tributary streams are about 6% of normal and many small streams are intermittent or dry. Aquatic habitat is becoming limited for all species.
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Watershed Conditions Statements
June 16, 2016
Drought Deepening Again
The last significant rainfall in the Rideau River watershed on June 5 caused streamflows to increase and helped crop growth, but the effect has worn off and the lack of rain since has once again left flows dropping and crops in need of more water. Rainfall recorded at Kemptville indicates that the Moderate Drought severity has been reached in the southern parts of the watershed. However, the drought severity overall in the watershed is still Minor but is expected to reach Moderate status late next week. Forecast rain next week is not expected to have a significant impact. Streamflows increased…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
June 09, 2016
Weekend Rainfall Improves Drought Status
Rain on June 5 was sufficient to improve the drought status to minor severity on the Rideau watershed. Streamflows and water levels increased as a result of the rain from about 10 percent of normal for the time of year to 50 percent. However, such flows are typically seen in mid-July to early August. Little rain is forecast for the next two weeks which means that water levels can be expected to drop noticeably throughout the watershed again.
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Watershed Conditions Statements
