(This story has been updated to include a flood watch being issued for Chippewa Creek.)
The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) has upgraded a Flood Outlook issued earlier on Saturday to a Flood Watch for Chippewa Creek due to significant rainfall.
The Flood Outlook statement, issued earlier Saturday, remains in effect for the remainder of the watershed.
“The Chippewa Creek water level gauge indicates that the creek has risen one metre so far (Saturday) in response to the rainfall and is currently just below the top of bank level,” said Kurtis Romanchuk, NBMCA Duty Officer.
Officials say continued precipitation is possible Saturday evening and overnight, as the thunderstorms move across the area.
The NBMCA says urbanized watercourses, including Chippewa Creek, have risen quickly during the intense rainfall, and may continue to rise. Watercourses in rural areas will respond more slowly but may show a water level increase over the coming hours or days.
“Water levels within local watercourses, particularly in urbanized areas, are high and may continue to rise depending on the amount and intensity of rainfall that is received from this point,” Romanchuk added.
Flood Watch notifies that the potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare.
Flood Outlook gives early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts that could lead to possible high runoff, riverine flooding, lakeshore flooding, or erosion.
This message will be in effect until (or updated before) 5 pm on Monday, July 26, 2021.
Earlier this week, NBMCA issued a flood warning for Chippewa Creek after a Monday night storm.
That warning expired on Wednesday afternoon.
