Flood alerts for York Region warn of 'hazardous' conditions

Keep children and pets away from bodies of water: conservation authorities

Yorkregion.com
March 15, 2019
Lisa Queen

If you’re a parent or guardian, you’ll want to pay attention to these warnings as kids wrap up March Break.

If your youngsters are heading outside to play, make sure they know to stay away from lakes, rivers, creeks and ponds.

Both the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority are advising warmer temperatures are likely to cause flooding.

With Environment Canada forecasting as much as 20 mm of rain and a high of 11 C on March 14, the authorities have put flood outlooks in effect until March 16.

“Children and pets should be warned to stay away from all watercourses,” LSRCA duty officer, Manish Kaushal, said in a statement.

The rain and warmer than normal temperatures will thaw considerable snow on the ground.

“The expected rainfall coupled with the amount of ice and snow in storm drainage systems will increase the potential for blockage and ice jams, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges,” Kaushal said.

“This may result in localized flooding in some areas.”

Also, warmer than normal temperatures will melt ice on rivers and creeks, resulting in “dangerous conditions,” Kaushal said.

The possibility of thunderstorms the night of March 14 could mean as much as 30 mm of rain could hit the area by Friday, the TRCA is warning.

“All rivers within the GTA may experience higher flows and water levels, resulting in potential flooding and hazardous conditions, especially behind bridges and culverts where ice jams are present. Ponding may occur in low-lying areas,” the authority said.

“The combination of slippery and unstable banks could create hazardous conditions close to any river, stream or other water body. All shorelines, rivers and streams within the GTA should be considered hazardous.”

Children and pets should be kept away from slippery and unstable water banks, it added.