How bad will the flooding get in Huntsville?

UPDATE #3 (April 4 at 1pm): FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT
Water levels in the downtown core appear to have peaked and will gradually decline over the course of the day. The cold temperatures overnight have caused some icing which could cause some minor fluctuations in the levels. The Town of Huntsville is advising local residents that high water levels are on a slow and steady decline and are expected to continue to decrease as the flows pass through the system.

UPDATE #2 (April 3 at 12:30pm): The Town of Huntsville advises local residents that with the cold temperatures overnight, there has been a decrease in water flow and water levels appear to be receding in the upper watershed. Water levels in the downtown core will continue to increase, however, not significantly, and we believe water levels will peak in this area in the next 12 – 24 hours. Town officials expect water levels in downstream areas, including the downtown, to continue to increase slightly over the next 12-24 hours before beginning to drop. Town officials are asking residents in the lower areas of our watershed to expect water levels to remain high and possibly increase slightly as the flows make their way through the lakes, although it is not anticipated that the levels will negatively impact residents once the high flows pass the downtown core. Property owners in low-lying areas should continue to take precautionary measures to protect property as water levels increase.

UPDATE (April 2 at noon): The Town of Huntsville has issued a statement that “water levels appear to have peaked, flooding continues within specific watercourses and municipalities…. Town officials expect water levels in downstream areas, including the downtown, to continue to rise for the next 48 hours before beginning to drop. Property owners in low-lying areas should continue to take precautionary measures to protect property as water levels increase.” The Town reminds residents that it is illegal to drive on a closed road, and asks residents to stay clear of waterways and ensure that children do the same.

Town of Huntsville released a flood warning this morning (April 1), with flooding imminent or occurring in some areas. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is reporting increasing water levels on the Big East River and has advised the Town that water levels are trending toward 2013 flood levels.

There are numerous road washouts throughout the municipality and some flood-prone roads are impassable. Property owners in low-lying areas have been advised to take precautionary measures to protect property as water levels increase. An up-to-date list of road closures can be found at www.huntsville.ca/en/living/RoadClosures.asp.

Huntsville Road Closures as of April 1 at 4pm

“Municipal staff and services along with emergency services are currently working on managing this situation,” said Town of Huntsville CAO Denise Corry. Parents and guardians are advised to remind children to stay clear of open waters, creeks and rivers.

At Wednesday’s (March 30) General Committee meeting, Fire Chief Steve Hernen noted that of particular concern is the amount of water the snowpack is holding.

“That’s what we always look at is how much water the snowpack is holding,” he said. “Although we only had 16 inches of snow in the Arrowhead Park area (when it was last measured), the snow is holding 55 mm of water, so that’s a lot of water in there.”

Now we are seeing the effects of the addition of last night’s substantial rain to that already water-laden snowpack. But that’s not the only concern, said Hernen.

Algonquin Park is our biggest headache. It’s still holding a lot of snow and a lot of water. So even in a week’s time we might be done with all our snow and the lakes are breaking up and everyone thinks it’s over, but we’ve got to keep our eye on Algonquin Park. The next two weeks looks good – warm during the day and cool at night – so it will melt during the day and cool during the night. If that changes drastically, we could have some issues.
Fire Chief Steve Hernen

The MNRF is reporting that 49.8mm of rain fell in Muskoka during the storm, but no significant rainfall is forecast in the next four days and temperatures are trending downward. In its most recent flood message, the Ministry said that “risk of flooding remains for the next few days as the rain and snowmelt from the recent weather system peaks in area streams and rivers. With minimal rain expected in the next four days and cooler temperatures the stream flows should gradually stabilize in areas currently under high water.” The Ministry added that the snow melt from the existing snow pack could be stabilized with the cooler temperatures and significantly reduce further flooding due to snowmelt conditions.

Flood-prone areas on the Big East River saw flooding today; water levels on the Muskoka River in Huntsville are high but had not breached their banks at time of publication.