ORCA issues Flood Watch - January 6, 2025

Message # 2025-01

Issued:  1:15 p.m., Monday January 06, 2025

Subject:  This FLOOD WATCH is issued for the Trent-Severn Waterway.  

 Issued to: Municipalities of Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills, and ORCA’s other partners in flood emergency management.

 Weather: Due to rainfall and snowmelt during the holiday season, the Trent-Severn Waterway, which includes the Kawartha Lakes, Otonabee River, Rice Lake and Trent River, is currently experiencing higher-than-normal water levels and flows. With the recent influx of extreme cold air temperatures and wind chill, combined with a lack of insulating ice cover and fast-moving water through the Otonabee River, conditions are conducive to the formation of frazil ice which can lead to flooding.

 Frazil Ice:  Frazil ice is a kind of slush ice that can form when cold air temperatures and wind chill combine to cause surface water temperature to be super-cooled (i.e., cooled below the freezing point), but the super-cooled water is unable to form a solid cover of ice because of fast and turbulent water. As frazil ice flows downstream, it will eventually come to rest against obstructions (e.g., islands, bridge piers and abutments), in low velocity areas (bends and slope reductions) or in areas of channel constrictions. Where it comes to rest, it will accumulate. Frazil ice may also anchor itself to the bottom of a watercourse and accumulate.

 Flood Risk: Where frazil ice accumulates it is likely to cause a restriction of water flow downstream, resulting the back-up of water and increased water levels and possibly flooding.  

 Actions: Municipalities, Indigenous communities, local water managers, emergency services and residents are advised to monitor conditions and prepare for potential flooding. Water levels can be monitored at Trent-Severn Waterway, Water Survey of Canada and Otonabee Conservation websites. If water levels are observed to be rising because of frazil ice accumulations, populations in affected areas are advised to move personal property from low lying areas, crawl spaces and basements to higher ground to avoid it getting wet or ice damaged.

 This FLOOD WATCH message will expire Monday, January 13th, 2025, unless up-dated earlier.

Gordon Earle | Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer | 705-745-5791 x 214
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, ON K9H 7M9
orcafloodduty@otonabeeconservation.com

The Flood Watch Hotline 705-745-5791 x 228 has been discontinued. To receive flood messages directly, please subscribe on our website.