Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the North Bay, Powassan, Mattawa area.
Meantime, nearby in West Nipissing and French River, Environment Canada has continued its rainfall warning for that area.
"Locally heavy rainfall this evening with local rainfall amounts exceeding 50 mm," Environment Canada stated.
"A stationary line of showers and thunderstorms has developed over North Bay and vicinity. Significant rainfall amounts will be possible before the line dissipates this evening."
Flood warning issued
Meantime, the North Bay Mattawa-Conservation Authority has issued a flood warning for Chippewa Creek and other urban creeks in the City of North Bay.
“Heavy thunderstorms are moving through the North Bay area this evening and a Rainfall Warning has been issued for the North Bay – Powassan – Mattawa area by Environment and Climate Change Canada,” stated David Ellingwood, NBMCA Flood Duty Officer.
“The water level in Chippewa Creek has already risen more than 100 cm. Further increases are possible with additional thunderstorms in the forecast. Water levels in urban creeks respond quickly to heavy downpours.”
On September 17, between 6:45 p.m. and 7:40 p.m., the Chippewa Creek water level went up by 122 cm. However, the rainstorm did ease off and the water level on Chippewa declined over the following few hours.
Rains were very localized with passing thunderstorms the evening of Sept. 17. By comparison, other watercourses with streamflow gauges in the NBMCA watershed rose by less than 10 cm.
Officials expect the flood warning to stay in place until at least 4 p.m. on Monday, September 18.
As part of the NBMCA Flood Forecasting and Warning Program, staff will continue to monitor weather and watershed conditions and update this message if needed based on the changing weather/streamflow conditions. Staff remain in contact with municipalities and other partners as required.
The general public is advised of these messages through the www.nbmca.ca website with the flood status icon and a link to information about current conditions. NBMCA also circulates these messages to local media and social media, posting on Twitter (@theNBMCA), Facebook
(@theNBMCA) and Instagram (nbmcainfo).
