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Keeping You Up-to-Date on Flooding in the Region
Flooding is becoming a year-round possibility with the mild and rainy winter weather that has affected the Ganaraska Region lately. Traditionally, GRCA staff would anticipate high volumes of runoff during the spring snowmelt season but this year has seen much less snow on the ground so far. It makes sense to think about the possibility of flooding whenever heavy rains are forecast including during these mild winters. GRCA staff are working year round to identify the conditions that could result in flooding and provide advance warning through our flood messaging system to municipal staff and residents that may be impacted.
Flood Monitoring Network
The GRCA Flood Monitoring Network includes a number of automated monitoring stations with a variety of instrumentation for monitoring watershed conditions. These stations are accessed remotely to view and download data to a desktop at the administration office.
- 17 Stream gauges - recording water levels and flows
- 11 Rain gauges - recording depth of rainfall
- 2 snow gauges - recording snow depth on the ground and as it falls
- 6 snow survey sites - measure depth and water content of snowpack
- Weather forecasts - provides valuable information for flood forecasts
Flood Messages
Flood forecasts are communicated using a system of flood messaging that includes three different types of messages depending on the severity of the anticipated flooding.
WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT
: General notices of potential flooding or other conditions that pose a safety risk. There are two kinds of statements:
* Water Safety indicates that high flows, unsafe banks, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for users such as anglers, boaters, swimmers, children or pets. Flooding is not expected.
* Flood Outlook gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high wind or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams, lakeshore flooding or erosion.
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 WARNING
: Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities and individuals should take action to deal with flood conditions. This may include road closures and evacuations.
These messages are posted to the
GRCA website
, and sent to newspapers, radio and television stations, as well as municipal staff, school boards and emergency response agencies. If you would like more information about flooding, please contact Mike Smith, Water Resource Technician at (905) 885-8173.
Should flooding occur, the first response is up to individual homeowners
.
If the flood is beyond the capacity of the homeowner, municipalities may activate their emergency response plan.
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