NEWS RELEASE
GRAND RIVER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
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The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is issuing a Flood Watch message for the entire Grand River watershed.
Weather forecast
Temperatures in the watershed are predicted to reach double digits above freezing starting Friday March 14, and remain above zero over the weekend. A Colorado low system is forecast to move across the watershed on Saturday and Sunday, bringing approximately 25 to 30 mm of rain. The snowpack in the northern part of the watershed still contains a significant amount of water content. Warm temperatures combined with expected rainfall will result in snowmelt and runoff.
Flood Watch for the entire Grand River watershed
The snowpack across the watershed has been melting from recent warm temperatures, which has led to increased water levels. Higher flows in local waterways combined with runoff from this event will increase the risk of flooding in low-lying areas typically prone to flooding. Municipal flood coordinators in Grand Valley, Waldemar, Drayton, West Montrose, the Village of Conestogo, New Hamburg, Ayr, Brantford, Six Nations, Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunnville should be aware of these conditions and take appropriate precautions.
GRCA Reservoirs
The major reservoirs at Belwood, Conestogo, Guelph, Luther, Woolwich, Laurel, and Shade’s are at normal levels for this time of year and have storage available to help reduce the impact of downstream flooding.
High flows and unstable ice conditions will increase the safety risk around rivers and streams throughout the watershed. The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution around all local waterways. Parents are reminded to keep their children and pets away from all watercourses. The public is reminded to stay off of all ice-covered waterbodies, due to unsafe conditions.
River conditions and forecasts are being monitored closely, and any additional flood messages will be issued as needed.
This message will remain in effect until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19.
More information
- For more information on flows, weather and reservoir conditions see the River Data section of the GRCA website.
- More information on the flood warning system is available on the GRCA website.
- Receive GRCA flood messages by e-mail by subscribing through the GRCA website.
- Follow GRCA flood messages on X at grca_flood_msg.
- More information about how the GRCA’s role in managing floods is available in the Flooding section of the website.
- Copies of the GRCA’s River Safety Rules booklet is available by contacting the GRCA Administration Centre.
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