Current Flood Message

February 9, 2012 - 11:00 am

 

The MNR provides flood forecast messages to conservation authorities and municipalities to enable them to prepare for, track and manage local flooding. Flood forecast messages are not flood warnings.

 

 

Your local conservation authority (CA) is responsible for local flood messaging and your local municipality is responsible for on the ground flood response. For more information on your local situation, check with your conservation authority or municipality. If you live in a community that is not serviced by a conservation authority, any flood advisories or flood warnings in your area are issued by the nearest MNR district office. Who to Contact

 

Map Instructions

 

To view Conservation Authorities or MNR Districts click the corresponding button at the top of the map.

Provincial Messages
Local Messages

 

In Ontario, there are two main types of messages Local Messages and Provincial Messages that are issued by various organizations. Local Messages are issued by conservation authorities (CA) or MNR districts in areas that are not serviced by CAs. Provincial Messages are broader, high level messages that are issued by MNR’s Surface Water Monitoring Centre to local agencies and partner ministries to alert them to the potential flooding.

 

Local Messages Issued for:

MNR Districts:

None

 

Conservation Authorities:

  • Quinte - Watershed Conditions Bulletin - February 9, 2012 3:00 pm

Provincial Messages Issued for:

MNR Districts:

Algonquin Park, Aurora, Aylmer, Bancroft, Chapleau, Cochrane, Dryden, Fort Frances, Guelph, Hearst, Kemptville, Kenora, Kirkland Lake, Midhurst, Nipigon, North Bay, Parry Sound, Pembroke, Peterborough, Red Lake, Sault Ste Marie, Sioux Lookout, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Wawa

 

Conservation Authorities:

Ausable Bayfield, Cataraqui Region, Catfish Creek, Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Crowe Valley, Essex Region, Ganaraska Region, Grand River, Grey Sauble, Halton, Hamilton, Kawartha, Kettle Creek, Lake Simcoe Region, Lakehead Region, Long Point Region, Lower Thames Valley, Lower Trent, Maitland Valley, Mattagami Region, Mississippi Valley, Niagara Peninsula, Nickel District, North Bay Mattawa, Nottawasaga Valley, Otonabee, Quinte, Raisin Region, Rideau Valley, Saugeen, Sault Ste Marie Region, South Nation, St. Clair Region, Toronto and Region, Upper Thames River

Weather Situation

 

Temperatures will be below freezing for the entire province for the next few days into the weekend. Night time temperatures for the south will range from -10 to -25 degrees Celsius while in the North it will range from -20 to -25 degrees Celsius. The coldest night time temperatures are likely this weekend for the South. Wind chill values range from -15 to -35 degrees Celsius in the south for tomorrow into the weekend and will range from -25 to -45 degrees Celsius in the North.

 

 

Winds are expected to be moderate to strong tomorrow for the South and Lower Great Lakes region in the range of 40 to 50 km/h changing from northeast to northwest and then to west-southwest and gradually diminishing over the weekend.

 

Issue

 

Higher than normal flows, lack of ice cover, and exposure of the water surface to cold temperatures and/or wind chills below -18 can trigger the formation of frazil ice which can accumulate quickly on bridge abutments, piers, and riverbanks. Consequently water levels can rise quickly upstream of the frazil ice constriction and lead to localised high water conditions or flooding in vulnerable areas.

 

 

Stream flows are not high at this time in the province however conditions over the next several days are ideal for development of frazil ice in areas where there is open free flowing water. Areas prone to frazil ice should be monitored while temperatures are conducive to development and/or until such time as rivers become ice covered.

 

 

A watch on local conditions and close and frequent review of updated stream flow and river conditions is advised.

 

 


Warning Levels

 

  • FLOOD WARNING: flooding is imminent or occurring within specific watercourses and municipalities.
  • FLOOD ADVISORY: potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities.
  • FLOOD SAFETY AND WATERSHED CONDITIONS BULLETIN: unsafe lake, river and channel conditions exist.