Ottawa River Flooding Worsens: Major Event Declared

Water levels on the Ottawa River are forecast to stabilize in the Ottawa-Gatineau area by the middle of this week, providing a brief respite from rising floodwaters. Communities further east, such as Britannia and Thurso, anticipate a further rise of about 25 centimetres, while Hull could see an increase of approximately 40 centimetres before levelling off. These anticipated levels are expected to remain significantly below the record highs set in 2019.

This marks the fourth major flood event in the region within the last 10 years, following incidents in 2017, 2019, and 2023. Fort-Coulonge, Quebec, a community of about 1,300 people west of Gatineau, declared a state of emergency on Sunday evening. The town has deployed dikes and closed its Marchand Bridge, urging residents to conserve drinking water to support the treatment plant.

Numerous road closures are in effect across the region due to high water levels. Both Gatineau and Ottawa have reported significant closures, particularly impacting routes near Pointe-Gatineau, Templeton, and the east end of Ottawa. Ferry services are also affected, with restrictions on some routes and closures on others, though the Quyon Ferry remains operational. Several municipalities, including Arnprior and Clarence-Rockland, are providing sand and bags to residents.