THIS FLOOD MESSAGE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.
Message # 2022-01 Issued: 11:15 a.m., Friday January 21, 2022
Subject: FLOOD WATCH issued for Otonabee River, Jackson Creek and all other flowing watercourses in the Region.
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 ORCA’s other partners in flood emergency management.
This FLOOD WATCH is issued to alert municipalities, residents, and businesses that floods are possible.
The current extreme cold air temperatures can combine with a lack of ice cover and turbulent flows in area rivers, streams, and creeks to cause the generation of frazil ice which can lead to flooding. Extreme cold weather causing flooding has historically been observed in Jackson Creek and the Otonabee River but is possible anywhere that watercourses are uninsulated by ice cover and where flows are turbulent due to rapids or water falling over dams or waterfalls.
What is Frazil Ice?
Frazil ice – a kind of slush ice – can form when cold air temperatures and wind chill combine to cause surface water temperature to be super-cooled (i.e., cooled below the freezing point), but the super-cooled water is unable to form a solid cover of ice because of fast moving water. As frazil ice flows downstream it will eventually come to rest against obstructions (e.g., islands, bridge piers and abutments), in low velocity areas (bends and slope reductions) or in areas of channel constrictions. Where it comes to rest, it will accumulate. Frazil ice may also anchor itself to the bottom of a watercourse and accumulate. Where frazil ice accumulates, it is likely to cause a restriction of water flow downstream, thereby resulting in a rise of water, and possibly flooding, behind the frazil ice jam.
Residents and businesses along the shores of the Otonabee River and Jackson Creek, especially those located in low-lying areas, are strongly encouraged to keep a close watch for frazil ice generation, accumulation, and jamming, and to take action to limit or prevent damages due to potential flooding.
Water levels can be monitored on-line at:
- Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet
- Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data
- Otonabee Region Conservation Authority website
This FLOOD WATCH message will expire TUESDAY, February 01st, 2022, unless up-dated earlier.
For more information, please contact:
Gord Earle | Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 214
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com | Flood Watch Hotline 705-745-5791 x 228