ONTARIO – The South Nation Conservation (SNC) Authority issued a flood warning for Eastern Ontario on Friday, May 17.
It was reported that 10 to 25 mm of rainfall is possible from Friday, May 17 to Monday, May 20. The warning will remain in effect until Wednesday, May 22.
With water levels along the lower Ottawa River from Chats Lake to the Grenville and Hawkesbury area remaining high, flooding may be possible, but it is highly dependent on the amount of precipitation received.
“All flood-prone areas along the Ottawa River from Lac Coulonge down to the Montreal Archipelago are at risk as spring runoff continues along the upper Ottawa River,” read a SNC statement.
Water levels are expected to remain high for the coming weeks. Due to forecast uncertainty, SNC said it is hard to predict when levels will peak.
“Residents are advised to stay away from watercourses where flows are high and where banks might be unstable. Parents are encouraged to explain dangers to children,” read a SNC statement.
Residents in flood-prone areas are encouraged to seek out access to sandbags, keep sandbags in place for the coming two weeks and monitor conditions closely.
“SNC and its Ottawa partners, the Rideau Valley and Mississippi Valley Conservation Authorities, monitor the water levels and weather forecasts with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as part of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. Updates are provided as conditions change,” read a SNC statement.
Further updates can also be found by clicking the link here, provided by the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board.
