The Ministry of Natural Resources – North Bay District, is advising area residents that a Flood Watch bulletin is in effect until Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 4:00pm.
Residents in the North Bay District area should keep a close watch on conditions and exercise caution around lakes, rivers, creeks and streams. Spring freshet is under way and water levels and river flows are expected to continue to rise and remain high as the precipitation and runoff moves through the watershed. Please alert and or monitor any children and pets under your care to possible dangers and supervise their activities around waterbodies.
The ministry is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions. Further updates will be issued as appropriate.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Description of Weather System
Significant rain has been received throughout the district over the last 24 hours and rain, at times heavy, continues today. The current weather forecast is showing the possibility of an additional 15-30mm of rainfall for the central and southern areas of the district and 10-20mm for the northern areas of the district. An additional 5-10mm of rain could be received where thunderstorms occur. The system is expected to move eastwards out of the district later today.
Further precipitation is forecast for the district throughout the week with another possible rain event on Thursday that could bring another 15mm to 25mm of rainfall. The five-day total precipitation amounts from today to Saturday could reach 70mm in central and southern areas of the district and 60mm in the northern reaches.
Daytime temperatures throughout the district will remain above zero, climbing to double digits on Wednesday, where they will remain until Sunday when they drop down closer to zero. Nighttime temperatures will remain above zero until the weekend when they drop down close to or below the freezing mark.
Description of Current Conditions
Water levels and flows in the central and southern areas of the district are climbing higher because of past and current rain events, snow melt and runoff. Water levels in the northern reaches of the district remain within their normal ranges for this time of year; however, flows in rivers, streams and creeks continue to increase as warming temperatures and rainfall accelerates snowmelt and increases the amount of runoff reaching watercourses. Watercourses throughout the district are expected to react accordingly to the increased rainfall and runoff.
Lake and river ice continues to deteriorate and is considered unsafe in most areas of the district. Extreme caution should be used around all bodies of water as spring freshet continues.
Ground in most areas of the district is thawing but is saturated and has very little capacity, if any, to absorb moisture from rainfall or runoff. The existing snowpack has a high moisture content and reduced ability to absorb rainfall which will contribute to impacts.
Structures such as homes, boat houses and docks could be at risk of flooding if located near lake/river level or are in other low-laying flood prone areas that have a history of flooding. Residents in these areas are encouraged to monitor conditions and prepare accordingly.
Municipalities, residents and visitors, especially those in low-lying areas and along shorelines, are encouraged to monitor conditions and prepare accordingly. Shorelines and banks adjacent to waterbodies are very slippery and unstable at this time and when combined with cold, fast flowing water, pose a serious hazard.
Everyone is encouraged to prepare accordingly and keep a close watch of local weather forecasts, special weather statements and warnings as weather systems can be dynamic, and paths of travel and amount and type of precipitation may change.
This message remains in effect until Tuesday April 21 at 4pm, or until it’s updated.
DEFINITIONS
- WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY: indicates that high flows, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for such users as boaters, anglers and swimmers but flooding is not expected.
- WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK: gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high winds or other conditions
- SHORELINE CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY: indicates that along the Great Lakes shorelines high water, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous but flooding is not expected.
- SHORELINE CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK: gives early notice of the potential for flooding along the Great Lakes shorelines based on weather and lake conditions, and water safety information.
- FLOOD WATCH: potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities.
- FLOOD WARNING: flooding is imminent or occurring within specific watercourses and municipalities.
LEARN MORE
- Surface Water Monitoring Centre public webpage ontario.ca/page/surface-water-monitoring-centre
- Environment Canada bulletins: weather.gc.ca
- A close watch on local conditions and weather forecasts from Environment Canada is recommended.