Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Kawartha Conservation Logo Kawartha Conservation Print Logo

Normal
Watershed Conditions Statement
Flood Watch
Flood Warning
Normal
Level I
Level II
Level III
  • Conservation Areas

    Conservation Areas

    • Durham East Cross Forest
    • Event Calendar
    • Fleetwood Creek
    • Ken Reid
    • Off-Leash Dog Park
    • Pigeon River Headwaters
    • Report an Issue
    • Windy Ridge
    • Winter in the Kawarthas
    • The Talking Forest
    • Kawartha Quest
    • Disc Golf
    View our Durham East Cross Forest page
  • Permits and Planning

    Permits and Planning

    • Apply for a Permit
    • Book a Pre-Consultation Meeting
    • Event Calendar
    • Flood Plain Mapping
    • Planning Services
    • Property Information Requests
    • Property Mapping
    • Report a Violation
    • Source Protection Notice
    • Sediment and Erosion Control
    View our Property Mapping page
  • Landowner Services

    Landowner Services

    • Erosion and Shoreline Protection
    • Event Calendar
    • Farm Management
    • Healthy Gardens
    • Community Grants
    • Landowner Grants
    • Septic Systems and Wells
    • Tree Planting
    • Talbot River Healthy Environment Initiative
    View our Tree Planting page
  • Learn and
    Get Involved

    Learn and Get Involved

    • Birding
    • Careers and Volunteering
    • Festivals
    • Citizen Science
    • Donations
    • Kawartha Conservation Foundation
    • Learn at Home
    • Nature Camps
    • News and Events
    • Professional Development
    • Students and Teachers
    • The Talking Forest
    View our Kawartha Conservation Foundation page
  • Environmental Sciences

    Environmental Sciences

    • Climate Change
    • Data Requests and Maps
    • Drinking Water Source Protection
    • Flood Forecasting and Warning
    • Flood Plain Mapping
    • Lake and Environmental Management Plans
    • Lake Scugog Enhancement Project
    • Low Water and Droughts
    • Understanding your Watershed
    • Watershed Monitoring
    • Know Your Signs
    • Environmental Monitoring Strategy
    View our Cameron Lake page
  • About Us

    About Us

    • Accessibility
    • Board Meeting Calendar
    • Governance
    • Careers and Volunteering
    • Contact Us
    • Donations
    • Event Calendar
    • Online Store
    • Our Partners
    • Plans and Reports
    • Report an Issue
    • Who We Are
    • Bids and Tenders
    • Connect with Us Online
    View our Careers and Volunteering page
Contact Us

Default Interior Banner

Seasonal Flood Safety Message: Be aware of flooding risk due to thunderstorms

  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via Pinterest Pinterest
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
Email icon Back to Search

The summer weather has finally arrived! The warm season brings longer days and more fun outdoors. However, it also comes with severe weather hazards such as thunderstorms and flooding. 

Thunderstorms can suddenly develop during the warmer months and are often accompanied by strong winds, hail, lightning, and heavy rain. In some areas, especially urbanized locations, thunderstorms can cause flash flooding when large amounts of heavy rain occur in a short period of time. 

Forecasting and flood messaging for thunderstorms

It can be challenging for weather forecasts to accurately predict where and when thunderstorms will form. We rely on the weather forecasts and alerts from partner agencies such as Environment Canada, to assess the risk and severity of flooding resulting from sudden thunderstorms. If the forecast indicates that flooding is possible or about to occur, we issue flood messages to designated individuals within municipalities, partner agencies, and the media. Members of the public who self-subscribe to receive updates on the flood situation receive a notice of flooding risk in their email. Learn more about flood messages and how to self-subscribe.

Thunderstorm forecasts provided by other agencies often have very low confidence in exactly where, when, and how much rain will fall. As a result, it is very challenging to issue an accurate flood message for every forecasted (and sometimes un-forecasted) thunderstorm due to the high uncertainty. During severe rain events, we monitor the real-time weather and watershed conditions within the watershed jurisdiction, using tools such as radar and water level and precipitation monitoring gauges. 

Summer Flooding Safety Preparedness Tips

Flooding occurs when rivers and streams rise over their banks and spill into the surrounding land. Smaller streams and streams that flow through the urbanized areas can be considered ‘flashy’, which means that large amounts of precipitation over a short period of time can cause water levels in river systems to rise very quickly with little warning, sometimes in a few hours. 

As a reminder: 

  • Stay away from riverbanks and avoid recreational activities in watercourses during storm events, especially during thunderstorms.
  • Never drive through, walk in, or stand in any moving water. 
  • Avoid low-lying areas such as road underpasses and walkways.
  • Stay informed on thunderstorm warnings through local media outlets. Keep a battery-powered or wind-up radio in your home to stay up-to-date during power outages.
  • Download the WeatherCAN app from Environment Canada WeatherCAN - Canada.ca. The app provides weather information and alerts for your current and saved locations.
  • If you are instructed by emergency officials to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • If you or others are in danger, call 911 immediately. 

Learn more about summer weather hazards and safety tips at www.canada.ca.

For more information about regional water levels and seasonal changes, contact your local Conservation Authority.

 

Email iconSubscribe to News

Learn and Get Involved
    • Birding
    • Careers and Volunteering
    • Festivals
    • Citizen Science
      Toggle Section Citizen Science Menu
      • Senior Citizen Climate Change Action Group
      • Great Lakes Local Action Fund Project
    • Donations
    • Kawartha Conservation Foundation
      Toggle Section Kawartha Conservation Foundation Menu
      • Explore Nature Challenge
    • Learn at Home
    • Nature Camps
    • News and Events
      Toggle Section News and Events Menu
      • Event Calendar
      • Subscribe
    • Professional Development
    • Students and Teachers
      Toggle Section Students and Teachers Menu
      • Book a Field Trip
    • The Talking Forest

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page
  • Report an Issue
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Store
  • Contact Us

Kawartha Conservation Footer Logo

© 2020 Kawartha Conservation

  • Freedom of Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback

Follow Us

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our Instagram Page View our YouTube Page View our LinkedIn Page

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada logo

With the support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.