Message #2014-01
ISSUED: 11:30 a.m., Friday, January 10, 2013.
SUBJECT:
WATERSHED CONDITIONS – WATER SAFETY STATEMENT
ISSUED TO: Municipalities of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield (SEL), Douro-Dummer (DD), AsphodelNorwood (AN), Otonabee-South Monaghan (OSM), Cavan Monaghan (CM), City of Kawartha Lakes
(CKL), and the City of Peterborough (CP), as well as the ORCA’s other partners in emergency flood
management.
This message advises that a Watershed Conditions - Water Safety Statement is now in effect
for the whole of the geographical jurisdiction of the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority. A
Water Safety message is issued when unsafe lake, river, stream, creek and wetland conditions exist
or are expected. A Watershed Conditions - Water Safety Statement does NOT denote flooding of
lakes, rivers, streams and/or creeks.
WEATHER OUTLOOK
A low pressure system will move through the region over the next few days. Owing to the passage of
this system and its associated fronts, the daytime high air temperatures for Peterborough and the
Kawarthas will be: +00C today; +80C tomorrow; +10C on Sunday; and, +40C on Monday.
Subsequently, cooler air temperatures will return to the region. Rainfall associated with this system is
a total of 20-25 millimeters over the next 4 day. Most of this total amount will fall on Saturday,
January 11th, which will also coincide with the warmest air temperatures.
FLOOD RISK
The current snowpack will largely absorb the rainfall hitting the snowpack and any snowmelt. Thus, it
is expected that run-off occurring as a result of combined snowmelt and rainfall will be in the order of
only 10-15 millimetres, which is insufficient to cause lakes, rivers, streams or creeks to flood their
normal confines. That is, NO LAKE OR RIVERINE FLOODING is expected. There remains,
however, some concern that snow, ice and/or debris may impede the drainage of water from
municipal/county roads and urban streets. Hence, localized ponding of water may create hazardous
conditions in the area of blockages. As a result, the ORCA advises residents to exercise extra caution
when travelling. In addition, the ORCA strongly advises watershed residents to use extreme caution
around all bodies of water and stay well back of stream banks, flowing water, and structures such as
culverts and bridges.
This Watershed Conditions - Water Safety Statement will be in effect until Tuesday, January 14th.
- 30 –
Gordon Earle
Flood Forecasting & Warning Duty Officer
Ph.: 705-745-5791 x 214
The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority
250 Milroy Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9H 7M9
BUS: (705) 745-5791
FAX: (705) 745-7488
WEBPAGE: www.otonabee.com
Flood Watch Hotline
Ph.: (705) 745-5791, ext. 228
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