(North Bay July 24, 2021 - 11:30 am) A wave of thunderstorms are forecast by Environment Canada to bring 30-50mm of rain, possibly more in some areas, this evening and overnight adding to watercourses that are already at or above normal for this time of year. These conditions have prompted the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority to issue a Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook for the watershed.
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.
“Water levels on watercourses within NBMCA jurisdiction are at or above average for this time of year, due to the significant rainfall received earlier this week in some areas. With the significant rainfall forecast, water levels are anticipated to rise. As an urban waterway, Chippewa Creek tends to respond quickly to such rain events,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer.
Both the Chippewa Creek and the La Vase River remain elevated, and the lower Mattawa River is also slightly elevated due to backwater effects from the Ottawa River. They and other rural watercourses will take more time to respond to the incoming rainfall but may also see increases in levels.
“Localized flooding from area watercourses is possible if intense rainfall occurs, and water is likely to accumulate on roadways, parking lots and flat or low-lying areas. Serious flooding is not anticipated at this time,” added Romanchuk.
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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