Flood fears rise as rain hits Ottawa region

Flood fears continued to rise Friday morning along the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers as a sustained rain soaked the National Capital Region.

For the second time in three years, local homeowners are filling sandbags, building makeshift walls and preparing for water to spill over the area’s river banks. The cities of Ottawa and Gatineau have both issued calls for volunteers to help fill sandbags.

With local rivers swollen from melting snow, the amount of rainfall — and its intensity — will be critical factors during the next 48 hours in determining whether the region suffers another significant flood just two years after the disastrous spring of 2017.

“I think we should know more this afternoon about which way this is headed,” F erdous Ahmed, a senior water resources engineer with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, said in an interview Friday morning.

Ahmed said the region could face significant flooding, particularly if the rain falls in intense downpours.

“It’s not only the amount of the rain, but how it is coming down that’s important,” he said. “The last couple of weeks, all of this snow has melted and that contributed to a lot of flow in the river. Depending on how much rain we get — and with what intensity — it will increase the flow. But we just don’t know how much yet.”

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Ottawa that was last updated at 4:26 a.m. Friday.

That warning said that rain, heavy at times, is expected to hit the region with 30-50 mm of rainfall likely by Saturday morning.

The result of several low pressure systems tracking over the region from the southern U.S., the rain is expected to taper off Saturday afternoon.

Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible, Environment Canada said, since the frozen ground has a reduced ability to absorb rainfall.

“Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads,” the weather statement warned. “Keep children and pets away from creeks and river banks.”

In an interview Friday, Environment Canada operational meteorologist Brian Owsiak said the bulk of the rainfall is expected to fall late Friday. “For the most part, this is a longer duration rainfall event,” he said. “So it will be occurring over an extended period, but there could be times when the rain could be briefly heavier just given the nature of the system.”

Owsiak said meteorologists continue to track the storm, which could deliver heavier rainfall to the Ottawa region if the low pressure system unexpectedly shifts north.

In Ottawa, sandbag operations are being held from noon to 4 p.m. Friday in several locations. Volunteers can go to the Constance and Buckham’s Bay Community Centre at 262 Len Purcell Drive, or to the intersection of Highway 174 and Morin Road in Cumberland. (This road will be closed for through traffic, but volunteers will be permitted to enter at Old Montreal Road West and Hwy. 174.)

There are plans to add a third location, the Ron Kolbus Centre at 102 Greenview Drive in Britannia Beach, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. All three locations are to be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, but interested Ottawa volunteers should monitor the city’s social media channels and website after 5 p.m. over the weekend for specific instructions and updates. The city’s Twitter account can be found at @ottawacity.

Volunteers are asked not to bring their own equipment, except for weather-appropriate clothing, work gloves if they have them (otherwise they can be provided), close-toed footwear (ideally steel-toed boots), water and snacks. Lunch will be provided.

Volunteers will be required to register at the volunteer desk. Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age and those under 18 must be supervised by an adult or legal guardian.

Gatineau has asked those volunteering to help fill sandbags on Friday to go to the Beaudry Arena at 23 rue Saint-Alexandre, in the Gatineau sector, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those volunteering should wear closed-toe shoes or boots and bring a shovel and gloves. Registration is not required and parking is available on neighbouring streets and at École Massé at 1 rue Saint-Alexandre.

“We were lucky the snow melted slowly. This weekend, it’s all about the rain,” said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, general manager of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority , which has released a flood warning in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority and South Nation Conservation Authority .

Because of uncertainty over the rain forecast, the conservation authorities say, it’s hard to accurately predict how quickly water levels will rise and when river conditions may peak.

Water levels on the Ottawa River, Lac Coulange and the Montreal Archipelago are expected to rise rapidly.

Updated forecasts can be monitored throughout the weekend on the website ottawariver.ca , with updated information about peak levels and conditions also available there.

The City of Ottawa has also expanded the number of locations where residents can obtain sandbags.

Centre: