Subject: FLOOD WARNING UPDATE issued for all watercourses / waterbodies in the geographical jurisdiction of the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA).
Issued to: Municipalities of Selwyn (SEL), Douro-Dummer (DD), Asphodel-Norwood (AN), Otonabee-South Monaghan (OSM), Cavan Monaghan (CM), City of Kawartha Lakes (CKL), City of Peterborough (CP) and Trent Hills (TH), as well as ORCA’s other partners in flood emergency management.
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 5-day weather forecast is for continued warm air temperatures. Rain is expected to begin Wednesday (May 02nd) and continue through Friday (May 04th). This multiple-day rainfall event is expected to deliver total amounts of 30 to 40 millimeters across both the Haliburton Lakes region and the Kawartha Lakes region.
OUSE RIVER, INDIAN RIVER, and TRIBUTARIES of the KAWARTHA LAKES and OTONABEE RIVER —
Water levels / flows along the Indian and Ouse Rivers continue to cause nuisance / minor flooding in low-lying areas. Also, the Otonabee River tributaries are experiencing well above normal levels / flows for this time of year. In addition, area wetlands have swelled, and there’s significant accumulation and ponding of water in low lying areas with poor drainage. Some relief is expected as a result of the next couple of days of dry weather, but conditions will then worsen as a result of forecasted rainfall. However, nothing worse than nuisance / minor level flooding in low-lying areas is expected as a result of the forecasted rainfall.
KAWARTHA LAKES, OTONABEE RIVER, and RICE LAKE – In the southern-most areas of the Haliburton Lakes region the snowpack has already disappeared, and therefore, watercourses/ waterbodies in this area are either holding steady or declining. The forecasted warm air temperatures and rainfall means that the snowpack in the northern-most areas of the Haliburton Lakes region will also be gone by the end of the week. The Kawartha Lakes have risen to the upper limit of their respective summer navigation levels, and are now holding at these levels. Later in the week, however, the Kawartha Lakes could again resume an upward trend as inflows from the north increase in response to forecasted rainfall. Currently, there are no planned changes to the Otonabee River. However, additional increases to the Otonabee River water level /flow may occur later in the week. Rice Lake is currently holding steady, but will increase later in the week if the Otonabee River is increased.
PREPARATION and CAUTION URGED: ORCA advises residents and businesses in flood vulnerable areas to prepare themselves and their properties for possible further flooding later in the week. The ORCA also reminds all area residents to keep away from all waterbodies / watercourses, conveyance structures (e.g., dams, culverts and bridges), and anywhere that water can be seen to be ponding.
The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority (ORCA) continues its monitoring of current conditions and forecasts. This FLOOD WARNING will next be updated no later than 3:00 pm FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2018.
Flood Watch Hotline: 705-745-5791, ext 228