The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District
is advising area residents that a Flood Warning is in effect in the district until Thursday, May 4, 2023. This message will affect residents within the MNRF Bracebridge Minden Parry
Sound District for portions of the District Municipality of Muskoka. River Sections included in this Flood Warning are: South Branch Muskoka River from Lake of Bays to Bracebridge and the Bala Reach and Moon River.
River flows will remain above flood thresholds over the next several days.
Lower-lying portions of known flood-prone areas are being impacted to various degrees.
Be cautious if traveling on local waterways. Boat traffic during high water conditions can
cause damage to shorelines and to shoreline property with vessel wakes.
With rain, warmer temperatures and melting snow, banks and shorelines adjacent to water
bodies can be extremely slippery and unstable. Residents and visitors should exercise
caution while around waterbodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets.
MNRF 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.
Residents that have been affected by high water and flow conditions in the past should take
necessary action to protect/secure any vulnerable property in proximity to rivers and lakes
and closely monitor developing conditions and regularly check for updated messages.
The ministry is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions.
Further updates will be issued as appropriate.
Description of Weather System
Weather forecasts call for rainfall up to 65 mm by Tuesday May 2nd.
Description of Current Conditions
High water levels and river flows continue for the South Branch Muskoka River, Lake
Muskoka and the Bala Reach/Moon River.
River flows are expected to remain high for the next several days.
The watersheds are cascading systems – each waterbody feeds into the next downstream.
Runoff from rain and snowmelt cascades and compounds through the entire system
affecting water levels in each waterbody. It will take a number of days for the additional rain to work its way through the entire system. Downstream water bodies may experience a delay in the full impact of the upstream inputs.
MNRF is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions. Further
updates will be issued as appropriate.
• WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY: indicates that high
flows, melting ice or other factors could be dangerous for such users as boaters,
anglers and swimmers but flooding is not expected.
• WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – 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
• SHORELINE CONDITIONS STATEMENT – WATER SAFETY: indicates that along
the Great Lakes shorelines high water, melting ice or other factors could be
dangerous but flooding is not expected.
• SHORELINE CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK: gives early notice
of the potential for flooding along the Great Lakes shorelines based on weather
and lake conditions, and water safety information.
• FLOOD WATCH: potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and
municipalities
• FLOOD WARNING: flooding is imminent or occurring within specific watercourses
and municipalities.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District
is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety Bulletin is
in effect in the district until Friday, May 5, 2023. This message will affect residents within
the MNRF Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District for portions of the District of Parry
Sound, District of Muskoka and City of Kawartha Lake within the Black, Burnt, Magnetawan
River and North Branch Muskoka River Watersheds.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook bulletin is in effect until Friday May 5, 2023. This message will effect residents within the MNRF Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District in the County of Haliburton and City of Kawartha Lakes.
