Watershed Conditions Statements
January 18, 2018
Water Safety: Another January Thaw Brings Unsafe Conditions on Rivers and Lakes Throughout Rideau Watershed
January 18, 2018 – Temperatures around the freezing point through the weekend and rain early next week will once again cause the loss of much of the snow cover and unstable ice conditions in the Rideau Valley. As the snowmelt and rain runoff moves through the Rideau system, the ice cover will be shifting and, in some places, breaking up. Water can be expected to pond on top of the ice. Going on ice covered water bodies is not advisable for the next several days. Slightly more snow on the ground in the upper watershed west of Smiths Falls and more…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
January 12, 2018 – With unusually warm temperatures melting much of the snow cover, water levels are rising throughout the Rideau watershed bringing on unstable ice conditions. Levels can be expected to continue to rise through the day until a forecast rapid freeze occurs mid-afternoon. In faster flowing stream sections, ice has broken up and been moved downstream and there is the potential for ice jamming that could cause localized high water situations. On lakes and flat stream sections, the ice will have been lifted by the increased water levels and have meltwater ponded on the surface. As temperatures drop,…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
November 03, 2017
More Rain Forecast for Sunday
November 3, 2017 – Rain forecast for Sunday could raise water levels again. In the order of 25 to 30 millimetres of rain fell on the Rideau watershed yesterday and this morning, less than was forecast. The rain was not enough to raise water levels significantly. Rain now forecast for Sunday has the potential to be enough to raise the already elevated flows. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry meteorologists have forecast 10 to 25 mm of rain on Sunday which could increase to a total of 40 to 75 mm if thunderstorms occur on Sunday night. The result…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
October 30, 2017
Minor Flooding of Low-Lying Areas the Result of Heavy Rains
Rainfall over the last three days from 70 to 100 millimetres has caused water levels typically seen in the spring in the Rideau watershed. Flows rose dramatically from what they were going into the weekend after very little rain through September and most of October. Operation of the Long Island Dam by Parks Canada staff slowed the increase of levels on the Long Reach. However, access roads to communities on the Rideau near Kemptville may still be threatened as the water from upstream passes through the system. In Perth in the Tay Subwatershed, flooding has so far been limited to…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
October 29, 2017
Water Levels to Rise with Fall Rains
Heavy rain forecast for today and overnight are expected to cause elevated water levels throughout the Rideau River watershed. With very little rain through September and October, flows on the Rideau system had fallen below the long term average for the time of year. As much as 100 millimetres of rain have been forecast for the next 24 hours. This amount of rain can be expected to raise water levels throughout the system. With the Rideau Lakes at winter levels, it is anticipated that there is capacity to accommodate the rain in the upper watershed with little impact. In the…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
With relatively minor rain forecast for the coming week and the flood waters in decline, the RVCA is withdrawing the Flood Watch that has been in effect for the last week. Water levels are still above normal but continuing to decline. The 3-day rainfall of 35 millimetres presently forecast for Wednesday through Friday in eastern Ontario is expected to cause a pause in the decline. Periods of heavier, localized rain may fall in thunderstorms but no significant impact is expected at this time. Waters have receded from the North Gower area where serious flooding along Stevens Creek occurred last week.…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
