Message #2020-05
Issued: 3:30 p.m., Sunday January 19, 2020
Subject: FLOOD WARNING – issued for Otonabee River
Issued to: Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills, and Otonabee Conservation’s other partners in flood emergency management.
This FLOOD WARNING is issued to alert municipalities, residents and businesses that flooding is occurring or imminent on the Otonabee River. The combination of high flows, cold air temperatures, turbulent water and heavy snowfall we have experienced Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning has increased the formation of frazil ice on the Otonabee
River.
Frazil ice has begun to jam within the river between Bensfort Bridge and Rice Lake. Frazil ice is also accumulating along the shoreline of the river and now restricting water flow downstream, thereby resulting in a rise of water levels, and flooding.
Based on the rise of water levels within the Otonabee River, the Trent-Severn Waterway has conducted operations to decrease the outflows from the reservoirs into the Otonabee River.
Based on the weather forecast for Sunday night through Monday night, the cold air temperatures and wind gusts present favourable conditions for the generation of more frazil ice.
Residents and businesses along the shores of the Otonabee River are strongly encouraged to monitor conditions and to take action to protect themselves and to limit or prevent damages. Otonabee Conservation staff will continue to monitor conditions.
To obtain current water levels & operations along the Trent-Severn Waterway, please refer to the Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet
This FLOOD WARNING will be updated no later than 3:00 pm TUESDAY, January 21, 2020.
-30-
Neil MacFarlane | Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 231
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com | Flood Watch Hotline 705-745-5791 x 228