Heavy rain on Thursday has caused streamflows and lake levels to increase significantly in the Rideau River watershed.
The amount of rain that fell in eastern Ontario wasn’t quite as much as forecast but it is certainly having an impact. Such water levels were last reached in 2014. The worst impact is in North Grenville and rural Ottawa near the confluence of Kemptville Creek with the Rideau River.
Some street and pathway flooding is occurring in Ottawa South adjacent to and in Windsor Park and in Ottawa East in Brantwood Park. No residential flooding in urban Ottawa has been reported to the RVCA.
With only light rain showers still in the forecast and runoff has been working its way through the system, the rate of increase of water levels has begun to slow down. Peak flow can be expected to occur tonight or early Saturday at about 450 cubic metres per second as measured at the monitoring station at Carleton University.
The recession will continue through the weekend. However, there may be a reversal on Monday as Parks Canada staff release water held in the Rideau Canal reservoir lakes that has been held back to provide some peak flow attenuation. This influx of water is expected to slow the recession briefly.
Everyone, especially children, are advised to stay away from the fast flowing and cold water in watershed streams. Also, there may still be ice on some more sheltered lakes that can be expected to be highly unstable and should be avoided.
Conservation Authority staff will continue to monitor conditions and will issue updates as warranted.
RVCA Watershed Conditions Statements:
- Water Safety – High flows, unstable banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
- Flood Outlook – Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts, calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high winds or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams and/or lakeshore flooding or erosion.
- Flood Watch – Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individuals in flood prone areas should prepare.
- Flood Warning – Flooding is imminent or already occurring in area watercourses.
