Please be advised that Otonabee Conservation has issued a FLOOD WARNING UPDATE for all watercourses / waterbodies in the geographical jurisdiction of the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA).
This is an update to the FLOOD WARNING that was first issued Saturday April 14.
A FLOOD WARNING is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring (for details, see text below).
WEATHER FORECAST:
In both the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Lakes regions, the forecast is for significant precipitation starting Tuesday / Wednesday (April 24th / 25th), and continuing through Thursday. In total, this rainfall event is expected to bring 20 to 40 millimeters to the whole of the two regions before there is a return to partial sunshine on Friday (April 27th). At the same time, air temperatures in both the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Lakes regions are forecast to be positive during both day and night with mostly double-digit highs.
OUSE RIVER, INDIAN RIVER, and TRIBUTARIES of the KAWARTHA LAKES and OTONABEE RIVER:
With seasonal to above-seasonal air temperatures now hitting the area, the remaining snowpack is expected to disappear entirely in the coming few days. Currently, the ground is saturated, and there remains significant pooling / ponding in low lying areas where there is poor drainage.
In accordance with the warm temperatures, snowmelt and rainfall, the water levels / flows in local rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands will increase.
In addition, current minor / nuisance flooding will worsen due to the 20 to 40 millimeters of rain expected to fall on the Otonabee River, Indian River and Ouse River watersheds Tuesday April 24th through Thursday April 26th.
KAWARTHA LAKES, OTONABEE RIVER, and RICE LAKE:
The snow water equivalent in the 4,367 square kilometer drainage area of the Haliburton Lakes region was recently measured to range from 60 to 70 millimeters. During the past week, below zero over-night air temperatures in the Haliburton Lakes region have kept that snowpack largely intact. With both day-time and over-night positive air temperatures now arriving to the Haliburton Lakes region, inflows to the Kawartha Lakes from the north are, however, currently increasing due to melting of the snowpack in the north.
When rain arrives starting Tuesday/Wednesday, the combination of rain on snow, warm air temperatures and frozen ground conditions will cause a significant increase to the inflows to the Kawartha Lakes causing the Kawartha Lakes to rise. As a result, the outflow from the Kawartha Lakes through the Otonabee River, will also increase, which in turn, will increase Rice Lake water levels.
Throughout the coming days, the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) will continue its monitoring of current conditions and forecasts. This Flood Warning will next be updated no later than 3:00 pm Thursday, April 26, 2018.