The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry–Parry Sound District has issued a water safety statement, in effect until Friday, April 1, 2022.
With recent mild temperatures and precipitation water levels and river flows in local water bodies
have begun to rise.
Residents are reminded to keep a close watch on conditions and regularly check for updated messages. With rain, warmer temperatures, and melting snow, banks and shorelines adjacent to waterbodies can be extremely slippery and unstable. Ice conditions are deteriorating. Residents and visitors should exercise caution while around waterbodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets.
Up to 6 mm of rain and 16 cm of snow is forecasted over the next seven days across the Parry Sound and Muskoka area. Daytime highs over the next week are forecast to range between 4°C and -8°C while nighttime lows range between -2°C and -15°C.
Water levels in managed lakes are within their seasonal operating range for this time of year. The current snowpack water content ranges from an average of 100mm in the Muskoka area to 71mm in the Magnetawan area. The snowpack has lost 30% to 50% of its water content since March 15. The recent warm weather, limited rain and a melting snowpack has resulted in runoff which is causing water levels and river flows to rise. The forecasted cold weather through the weekend and into next week is anticipated to slow the current runoff and the rise in lake water levels and river flows is expected to slow as well.
Flooding is not anticipated at this time.
NDMNRF also advises extreme caution when using forest access roads for outdoor activities as they may become seasonally inundated with water, are prone to washouts and may become impassible due to localized flooding.
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