Officials from the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority say, “It’s the rain event we were hoping wouldn’t come.”
With warmer temperatures and 35 to 55 mm of rain adding to the spring melt, this weather system will tip the scale and bring flooding to area rivers and streams, prompting the NBMCA to issue a Flood Watch.
“We expect flooding in area streams and rivers due to the timing, duration and amount of rain expected during this weather event, together with several watershed conditions. We have above average water levels in watercourses and above average snow pack depth and water content which will melt more quickly with the rain and higher temperatures expected during this event,” said NBMCA’s Duty Officer Kurtis Romanchuk.
A Flood Watch notifies the public that the potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
According to the NBMCA, ice conditions are already hazardous and conditions will become even more so wherever creeks or rivers enter lakes. With the increased flow, shorelines and banks will be slippery and the public should stay away from those areas.
All residents, especially those in low lying areas, are encouraged to monitor the conditions that are developing. Municipalities are encouraged to monitor water crossings to ensure the continual movement of water through culverts and bridges.
Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks become very slippery with precipitation and melting conditions, and areas of open water near lakes are expected to expand due to the incoming rainfall and snowmelt. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from watercourses and waterbodies.
Staff at the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority will continue to monitor weather and watershed conditions and provide updates if conditions change.
The general public is advised of these messages through the website with the flood status icon and a link to information about current conditions. NBMCA also circulates these messages to local media and social media, posting on twitter @theNBMCA and Facebook NBMCA. The public is invited to share photos of watershed conditions on social media using #NBMCAFlood.
