The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
issued a flood watch
on April 8 for the Tay Valley and Rideau Lakes regions as water levels remain high in the upper watershed.
“Residents are strongly encouraged to remain vigilant, monitor local conditions, and take necessary steps to protect their properties,” the authority states.
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, meanwhile, also issued a water safety statement for areas along the Lower Ottawa River.
Rain isn’t forecasted to be letting up anytime soon in Ottawa this week, according to Environment Canada, with showers predicted for Tuesday and Thursday. The agency has also cautioned a chance of showers Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Ottawa’s last major floods
occurred in 2019
, when 2,000 Canadian military personnel were sent to relieve flood impacts across Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec, and
most recently in 2023
when Ottawa’s 3-1-1 service received around 130 calls related to basement flooding.
The current warnings follow several flood watches from mid March when 22 millilitres of rain were recorded at the Ottawa International Airport from freezing rain and ice storms.
