The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry – Parry Sound District is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety is in effect until 3:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2022. This message will effect residents within the NDMNRF Parry Sound District which includes the District Municipality of Muskoka, the Territorial District of Parry Sound and a north-west portion in the County of Haliburton.
With recent mild weather and forecasted daytime temperatures in the 5°C to 15°C range over the next week, water levels and river flows are expected to remain elevated.
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 water bodies can be extremely slippery and unstable. Remaining ice on local waterbodies is not safe. Residents and visitors should exercise caution while around waterbodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets.
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.
Up to 18 mm of rain and 1 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 15°C while nighttime lows range between +9°C and -3°C in the area.
Water levels in managed lakes are within their seasonal operating range for this time of year. The most recent snowpack reading from April 1 showed below average snowpack for this time of year. Most of the snowpack in the Muskoka and Parry Sound area has now melted.
The forecast warm weather, limited rain and a melting snowpack will result in runoff that will cause lake levels and river flows to remain elevated. Flooding is not anticipated at this time.
NDMNRF is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions. Further updates will be issued as appropriate.
To see information on Surface Water Monitoring, visit ontario.ca/flooding.