Information About The Flood Forecasting And Warning Program, Which Prepares Provincial And Local Authorities In The Event Of A Flood.
As Otonabee Conservation wrote in their recent e-news, the "snowpack holds the key to the Spring flooding forecast." Snow measurements help quantify the amount of water available as runoff during the winter or early spring, and are used to aid in flood forecasting and warning.
In Ontario, the accumulation and depletion of snow is manually measured twice a month, from November to May (or until no snow remains) as part of the provincial Snow Survey Program, a collaboration between Conservation Authorities, Ontario Power Generation, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).
At the time of writing this alert (March 26), the current posting for the MNRF Southern Region notes:
"The latest snow survey shows a continuing deep snowpack in southeast/ South Central Ontario ranging from 125% to 450% of normal for this date ...The impact of recent warm temperatures and rainfall have compacted the significant snow pack, reducing its ability to absorb rainfall. Warm temperatures and precipitation are likely to further degrade the snowpack and river ice, and produce runoff and increasing levels and flows."
Stay informed! The flood map and local message updates are HERE