Homeowners and businesses in the Rideau Valley Watershed are being warned to prepare for potential flooding.

Warmer weather and a forecast for rain have made the area's conservation authority update its flood advisory.

"The areas that we watch in terms of flood vulnerable areas, there's a few communities in old Ottawa South and Ottawa East, downstream of Billing's Bridge. Another area that we watch very closely is the long stretch of the Rideau from south of Manotick down towards Kemptville and Burritt's Rapids," Bruce Reid of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority told CTV News.

Flood risk higher than past years

Reid says this year's flood risk is higher than past years due to large amounts of snow to fall on the region.

"The snow pack that we've had in the past week or so is as high as we've seen for about 30 years," Reid said.

High-risk areas in the Rideau Valley Watershed include:

  • Areas near Brewer, Windsor, Brantwood and Strathcona Parks in Ottawa
  • Rural areas including the village of Kars, James Island, Lorne Bridge Road
  • Becketts Landing, Rideau Glen and the Arcand, Little Chesterville and Mapleshores developments in North Grenville Township
  • Areas between Smiths Falls and Poonamalie Lake
  • Richmond Village and areas near Twin Elm Bridge
  • Village of North Gower
  • Areas near the Tay River in and around Perth

Continuing to monitor the risk

Reid reminds residents, however, the flood advisory is only a warning to beware of the possibility of a flood.

"We're not saying that for sure we're going to have a major flood event. We're saying that the potential is there based on the heavy snow pack and the forecast for rain," said Reid. "We sort of watch things at this point on a day-to-day basis and in particular over the next 24 to 36 hours we're expecting about 20 millimetres of run-off."

He says the Authority is expecting to have a better idea of the flood potential by Wednesday.

Some residents already taking precautions

Robert and Joanne Weiss live on the flood plain and remember the flooding that occurred after the record setting snowfall in the winter of 1976.

"Most of this area was flooded out to the point that it crossed the road here up to the window sills," Robert Weiss told CTV News.

The couple has been preparing for the flood threat for the last two weeks.

They say although they're prepared for the flood, they're worried their neighbours aren't taking similar precautions.

"A lot of people don't know how to pack a sandbag, where to pack them and what to do in a case of a flood," Robert Weiss said.

New flood website

Flooding after this year's massive snowfall is threatening much of the province - a threat that's prompted the Ontario government to set up a website dedicated to the flood watch.

The Ministry of Natural Resources' website will monitor water levels in areas that are most susceptible to flooding.

There are 1,200 stations across Ontario currently watching the province's water levels.

With a report from CTV's Natalie Pierosara