Watershed Conditions Statements
March 11, 2016
Early Freshet in Full Swing
An unusually warm string of temperatures that are forecast to continue through next week are rapidly reducing the snowpack. Flows in all watercourses have increased significantly over the last two days. This increase will continue through the weekend until the snow cover is gone on Sunday night. Further increases in water levels will depend on whether or not the 10 to 20 millimetres of rain presently forecast for Monday to Wednesday occurs and when it falls. The impact of the melt and rain is expected to be a peak flow on March 17 in the order of 280 cubic metres…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
March 03, 2016
Spring Outlook
Winter 2016 took an unusually long time to arrive and has had trouble staying. Now it looks like it may be leaving early. A record snowstorm on February 16, some rain on the 24 followed by cold has made for a frosty start to March. Conservation Authority staff measured the snow on the ground on March 1 finding the depth and water equivalent to be slightly above the historical average. The snow that fell on Tuesday night and into Wednesday has increased the snowpack to about 25 percent above normal for the time of year. Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
February 23, 2016
Watershed Conditions Statement: Water Safety
A mix of precipitation forecast for tonight through to Thursday can be expected to cause some increase in levels in in all watercourses throughout the Rideau River Valley. It is unclear what will be the predominant form of precipitation that will fall over the next two days. If it is mainly rain, much of that will be retained in the snowpack but some runoff can be expected to occur and water levels will increase on all watercourses.
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Watershed Conditions Statements
January 08, 2016
January Thaw
After waiting for so long for snow to arrive, above freezing temperatures and rain forecast for tomorrow and Sunday can be expected to reduce the snow cover and cause increased water levels and flows in the Rideau watershed. Water levels on lakes and flows in watercourses are close to normal for the time of year. However, as conditions change through this thaw period, levels will increase and ice on lakes, ditches, local streams and rivers that had just begun to form will become more unstable posing potential safety risks. Caution should be exercised by everyone when near local streams and…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
