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April ... showers?

THUNDER BAY -- When spring finally does arrive, it's looking more likely that it could bring with it a dose of flooding for this area.
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THUNDER BAY -- When spring finally does arrive, it's looking more likely that it could bring with it a dose of flooding for this area.

An updated flood outlook statement released by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Friday morning advises that “flooding in low lying areas is likely” over the next few days. That warning came after 15 centimetres of snow touched down in the city between Thursday night and Friday morning.

The conservation authority warns that the precipitation will add to the snowpack which will continue to melt, adding to area waterways with “localized ponding” also a possibility.

However, Lakehead Region Conservation Authority chairman Bill Bartley is not ringing the alarm bells quite yet, saying they only expect a little bit in certain areas.

“We’re not expecting any widespread flooding,” Bartley said. “I’d expect there might be some low lying puddling.”

The Neebing-McIntyre Floodway has yet to be diverted, which Bartley says might be a possibility this weekend if water levels rise. He says water levels in the Neebing River lowered overnight.

The conservation authority warns that the precipitation will add to the snowpack which will continue to melt, adding to area waterways with “localized ponding” also a possibility.

Bartley says the conservation authority is continuing to monitor various waterways and their levels to stay on top of any potential issues.

This comes after an overnight dumping that left residents with the all too familiar task of shovelling the driveway and clearing snow off vehicles.

Peter Kimbell, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the city of Thunder Bay received between 15 to 20 centimetres of snow as of 8 a.m., with another five to 10 centimetres expected to accumulate by the end of the storm.

A snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada remained in effect as of 11 a.m.

Kimbell added the temperatures, which were hovering around the freezing point, are causing a very dense, wet snowfall.

Those temperatures are expected to result in mixed precipitation in the early afternoon before predominantly becoming a light rain that is not expected to let up until the evening.

The weather system resulted in yet another early morning for the city’s roads division, with plowing of main arterial streets and sidewalks beginning at 5 a.m.

Roads division manager Brad Adams says conditions are fairly messy.

“The asphalt is warm enough when the snow came down it started to melt and then we had the accumulation on top so there is a combination of snow and slush on the roads,” Adams said.

Kimbell says this latest snowfall is expected to increase the April total to 67 centimetres, compared to an of average 12 centimetres for the month.

The total winter accumulation is now nearly 250 centimetres.





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