Flood watch for Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is expected to continue to rise over the coming month and a flood watch has been issued by Quinte Conservation.

The International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board has forecasted that if the weather conditions continue within normal ranges for this time of year, the water levels are predicted to reach 75.3 m this week and reach peak levels in mid-May around 75.56 metres.

This is below the peak of 75.88 metres seen in 2017 and 75.92 metres observed in 2019,” said Christine McClure, Water Resources Manager with Quinte Conservation.

“Higher than normal water levels have continued throughout the winter and into the spring,” she said in a statement late Thursday. “Unprecedented inflows from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario have kept these water levels elevated over the past few months. The average Lake Ontario water level was recorded to be 75.28 metres on Wednesday, which is 44 cm above average and 36 cm below the record high for this time of year.”

The municipality has set up a dozen locations for fill-your-own sandbags:

Bring your own shovel to:
• 15 Coleman Street, Ameliasburgh
• 5567 Highway 62, Rossmore (BayBridge Jeans)
• Hiscock Shores cul-de-sac, Hillier
• Sunrise Drive cul-de-sac, Ameliasburgh
•  75 County Road 1, Sandy Hook Dome
• Waupoos Community Centre, 2699 County Road 8 (North Marysburgh)
• South Marysburgh Fire Hall, 30076 County Road
• 1035 County Road 14, Sophiasburgh
• Mariners Park Museum, County Road 10 and County Road 13, South Shore
• 230 Niles St., Wellington
• Consecon Fire Hall, 14 County Road 29, Consecon
• West Lake Community Church (1901 County Road 12).

Residents are advised to check local weather and wave forecasts for warnings as high wind and waves can cause shoreline erosion and wave uprush.

Quinte Conservation staff will continue to monitor conditions and will provide an update if forecasts and conditions change.