EXPIRED | Flood Watch Update | February 2, 2023

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Message # 2023-05

Issued:  2:15 p.m., Thursday, February 02, 2023

Subject:  FLOOD WATCH UPDATE – Issued for Otonabee River and Local Watercourses.

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.

WEATHER OUTLOOK

Beginning overnight tonight (Thursday, February 2nd) and continuing all day Friday and into the weekend, extreme cold air temperatures are expected to blanket the Region.

FLOOD RISK

The ingredients to frazil ice generation are the combination of open riverine channels, high flows, and cold air temperatures. The forecasted extreme cold air temperatures will significantly accelerate frazil ice generation, which in turn is expected to increase downstream frazil ice build-up/jamming, leading to increased channel constriction and increased water level rise behind the constriction/ice jam.

Early next week, warmer air temperatures are expected to return to the Region, significantly reducing the risk of frazil ice generation, accumulation and channel constriction, likewise reducing, if not eliminating, the risk of flooding due to frazil ice.

Otonabee Conservation advises residents in low-lying, flood-prone areas to continue keeping a watchful eye for frazil ice generation, accumulation and rising water levels, and to prepare for potential flooding. Otonabee Conservation also advises residents/visitors to stay SAFE by Staying Away From Edge of waterbodies and watercourse.

Water levels can be monitored on-line at:

  1. Trent-Severn Waterway’s Water Management InfoNet
  2. Water Survey of Canada Real-Time Hydrometric Data 
  3. Otonabee Region Conservation Authority website/

This FLOOD WATCH message will expire Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, unless up-dated earlier.

For more information:
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