Flood watch in Ottawa from rising temperatures, ice jams

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is carefully watching for ice jams along its watersheds in the nation’s capital as temperatures are expected to rise quickly on Thursday.

The organization is warning residents that flooding is possible in the Rideau Valley, which covers the majority of Ottawa, because of ice blocks jamming parts of the river as they flow down.

“Rising water levels and faster flows will continue to weaken ice cover throughout the week,” the statement reads. “Residents are advised to steer clear of shorelines as water levels may rise rapidly and to stay off all ice.”

Environment Canada expects temperatures to reach 17 C on Thursday, a rapid fool’s spring warm up before things dip again.

There is a possibility of some showers in the morning with temperatures dropping over the course of the day. By Thursday evening the weather agency predicts it could be as cold as -12 C with the wind chill.

The rapid climb will lead to increasing water flows and ice jamming, which happens with “little warning” when there’s a rise in water and colder temperatures.

“Although difficult to predict, ice jams tend to form in places where a river is shallow, or where it goes through twists and turns,” the conservation authority notes.

The flood watch is set to expire on Friday night.

Ice blasting took place earlier

Ottawa’s Roads and Parking Services Team worked with the authority to blast ice to mitigate flooding in the surrounding communities.

The process has been in place since the late 1890s, putting the team on the ice to clear the snow, cut the ice and finally blast.

The Rideau River Flood Control team was mobilized on Feb. 10 to begin preparing equipment and drilling test holes at several locations. The team then begins clearing snow and cutting keys in the forebay.

As the process is underway, the city and conservation authority are reminding people that there is no safe time to be on the Rideau River.

With files from CityNews’ Rachel Morgan.