(North Bay July 13, 2021) Although local watercourses within NBMCA’s jurisdiction are at or below average for this time of year, Environment Canada’s warnings of 25 to 50 mm of rain this evening and an additional 25 mm Thursday is prompting 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
“Chippewa Creek is around average level for this time of year, but it always responds quickly to rainfall, particularly if there is a significant amount fall in a short period of time,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer.
Both the La Vase and Wasi Rivers are well below average. 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) Friday, July 16, 5:00pm.