Yet another round of rain is coming to the entire Kawarthas region on Saturday (April 18), as portions of the region are already dealing with rising water levels and flooding as a result of previous rainfall and snowmelt.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Haliburton County and a special weather statement for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, and Hastings Highlands.
A cold front will sweep through the region Saturday, bringing showers and the risk of a thunderstorm beginning Saturday morning. Rainfall amounts of 20 to 30 mm are expected in Haliburton County, with 10 to 20 mm elsewhere.
With the ground already saturated with significant rainfall over the past week, localized flooding is likely. Some roads may become impassable. Don’t drive through flooded roadways. Avoid low-lying areas. Watch for washouts near rivers, creeks, and culverts.
The Township of Minden Hills in Haliburton County, which declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to flooding, is closing bridges in downtown Minden on Friday in the interests of public safety. Closures include the Sunnybrook Bridge (Bobcaygeon Road vehicle and pedestrian bridge) and the Loggers Footbridge (pedestrian bridge). The township is also proceeding with an emergency repair of the washout on Bobcaygeon Road to ensure access for emergency vehicles.
For information concerning flooding, consult your local conservation authority or Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources office. For information about locally issued flood messages, visit the Ontario Flood Forecasting and Warning Program web page.
