With the spring freshet on its way, and rainfall and warmer temperatures in the forecast, the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority has issued a Water Safety statement to caution area residents of the growing risks near and around area watercourses.
“The combination of snowmelt and rainfall over the next two days will increase runoff to watercourses and water bodies. Water levels in creeks and rivers are low or average for this time of year, so flooding isn’t expected,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer.
There is some uncertainty with the precipitation forecast, with anywhere between 5 mm and 25 mm of rain expected by Thursday evening. Residents may find water accumulating on roadways, parking lots and flat and/or low-lying areas.
A Water Safety statement is in effect:
The snowpack is 77 per cent higher than average and held approximately 200mm of water as of the most recent survey on February 28. Temperatures are expected to be in the 5 C to7 C range Thursday and Friday, before returning to below freezing Friday night.
“Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks become very slippery with precipitation and melting conditions, and when combined with cold open water can pose a serious hazard. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from watercourses and off water bodies which may have thinning, unsafe ice. Many creeks and rivers are flowing at this time of year even though they appear snow-covered,” added Romanchuk.
Staff at the NBMCA will continue to monitor weather and watershed conditions and provide updates if conditions change.
This message will be in effect until (or updated before) Friday at 4:00pm.
