THUNDER BAY — The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority has issued a flood watch for its catchment area, including the city of Thunder Bay.
In a media release issued Friday afternoon, the authority said that it also is in effect for the municipalities of Neebing, Oliver-Paipoonge and Shuniah, and the townships of O’Connor, Conmee, Gillies and Dorion. A flood watch is issued when conditions exist that could cause flooding.
Tammy Cook, the chief administrative officer for the LRCA, said that a combination of rain and warmer temperatures, combined with the fact that the ground is still frozen, means more runoff as the ground is unable to significantly absorb the water. A special weather statement from Environment Canada issued on Friday said that 10 to 20 millimetres is expected, with higher amounts in localized areas possible due to potential thunderstorms.
Snow pack measurements conducted by the LRCA showed they were slightly below average, ranging from 23 to 46 centimetres in depth. The authority said that translates to 80 to 101 millimetres of equivalent water.
The Neebing-McIntyre Floodway is still frozen over, Cook said, meaning it won’t help with any kind of diversion.
“We're just being proactive for the weekend and issuing this flood watch so people are aware to pay attention to area waterways and the potential for ponding and rising water over the weekend,” she said.
Lower-lying areas, frozen ditches and iced-up waterways are the areas most likely to be hardest hit, she added.
“We're not anticipating widespread flooding, for instance, but the low-lying areas definitely could be the hardest hit during this warm spell over the weekend,” Cook added.
The flood watch is in effect until 10 a.m. on Monday March 17.
The LRCA’s media release also advised residents to pay attention to local forecasts and to exercise caution in and around area watercourses, as high water flows and slippery banks pose a danger.
“Parents should be aware and talk to their children about the hazards of unstable ice and fast flowing cold water and keep them away from those unsafe areas over the weekend,” Cook said.
