Although many in the Ottawa area are looking forward to the high snow banks finally melting for the spring thaw, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is warning that the city faces the risk of severe flooding.
Forecasts are calling for daytime temperatures of 10 degrees coupled with heavy rain on Monday and into Tuesday.
This could lead to watershed streamflows to increase significantly, according to Patrick Larson, senior water resources technician at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
Lakes, rivers and streams are already near dangerous levels and the Conservation Authority is telling city hall to start preparing emergency flood plans.
Such flows would cause flooding of lower-lying areas along the Long Reach of the Rideau River to the south of Manotick including some private access roads, according to a Conservation Authority release.
The city is not taking the warning lightly and is preparing to set up depots.
"If it's identified that sandbags are needed, we would have sandbag depots with sand and shovels," said John Ash, manager of emergency measures at the City of Ottawa.
Luckily, colder temperatures are forecast for next Wednesday, which should cause water levels to decline quickly.
