The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Parry Sound District is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook is in effect for the District, which includes the District Municipality of Muskoka, the Territorial District of Parry Sound and a north-west portion in the County of Haliburton.
A Flood Outlook remains in effect for the Muskoka River Watershed west of Lake of Bays including the South Branch of the Muskoka River and the Moon River/Bala Reach. (A 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.)
Residents within the Parry Sound-Muskoka area should keep a close watch on conditions, regularly check for updated messages and exercise caution around water bodies as flows and levels within rivers and streams remain high. Although flooding is not expected at this time, residents may wish to consider taking action to secure or protect any property in flood-prone or vulnerable areas.
It is expected that lower-lying portions of known flood-prone roads along river courses will be impacted to various degrees as river levels remain high over the next few days.
With cooler temperatures, banks and shorelines adjacent to water bodies are extremely slippery and unstable. Residents and visitors should exercise caution while around water bodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets,
Travelling on the newly formed ice should be avoided.
MNRF also advises extreme caution when using forest access roads for outdoor activities as many are seasonally inundated with water, prone to washouts and may be impassible due to current water levels.
Current water levels and flows are higher than normal for this time of year, due to previous precipitation accumulation, warm temperatures and rapid snow melt. Several weeks of snowy weather, followed by warm daytime highs and heavy precipitation has the area blanketed with an average of 36cm of snow depth containing 145mm of snow water content.
Continued snowmelt and runoff due to forecasted warm temperatures later in the week may result in sustained high flows and levels depending on current stream conditions. Cold overnight temperatures will help to reduce river flows in the river systems. Additionally, slippery and unstable banks and extremely cold water temperatures can lead to very hazardous conditions around any water body.
MNRF is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions. Further updates will be issued as appropriate.
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Back about the second week of Feb, I measured the weight of snow per sq ft in my area.
I did the best (although I admit it was a non-professional set of equipment I used) job I could do and I chose an area that was shaded, clear of building and tree influence but not out where the wind would have carried the snow away either. The area was as representative as i could find for undisturbed snow.
I got readings of about 58 to 62 pounds per square foot. This is higher than I have found anywhere in the last few years. Of course drifting could alter this number up or down significantly depending on if the snow was swept away or deposited.
This is just an observation… do with it what you like, it is for interest only and I make no claim to it being accurate in your specific location.