(North Bay July 24, 2021- 9:30 pm) The Flood Outlook Statement issued this afternoon by the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority has been upgraded to a Flood Watch for Chippewa Creek due to significant rainfall. The Flood Outlook statement remains in effect for the remainder of the watershed.
“The Chippewa Creek water level gauge indicates that the creek has risen 1 metre so far today in response to the rainfall and is currently just below the top of bank level,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer.
Continued precipitation is possible this evening and overnight, as the thunderstorms move across the area. Urbanized watercourses, including Chippewa Creek, have risen quickly during the intense rainfall, and may continue to rise. Watercourses in rural areas will respond more slowly but may show a water level increase over the coming hours or days.
“Water levels within local watercourses, particularly in urbanized areas, are high and may continue to rise depending on the amount and intensity of rainfall that is received from this point,” he added.
Flood Watch notifies that the potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
Flood Outlook gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts that could lead to possible high runoff, riverine flooding, lakeshore flooding, or erosion.
If you have a flood emergency, please contact your municipality. If you live in an unincorporated township, please contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – North Bay District.
Municipalities are encouraged to monitor shorelines and water crossings and respond to high water levels as necessary.
A close watch on local conditions and updated forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada is also recommended. 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 www.nbmca.ca 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, Instagram nbmcainfo, and Facebook theNBMCA.
The public is invited to share photos of watershed conditions on social media using #NBMCAFlood.
This message will be in effect until (or updated before) Monday, July 26, 5:00pm.
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