With a 50 per cent chance waters will rise in the coming week, Quinte Conservation has issued a flood watch for the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario.

A  flood watch statement notifies communities the potential for flooding exists within specific watercourses and municipalities. 

Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should prepare

Local water levels are expected to rise throughout the spring and shoreline residents can expect above average water levels into the summer months.

High winds during periods of elevated lake levels can cause shoreline erosion and residents are advised to take the necessary measures to protect their property and belongings. 

All loose items along shorelines and within flood lines should be removed or properly secured.

According to Quinte Conservation, Lake Ontario is 38 cm higher than average for this time of year and there is a 50 per cent chance that water levels will rise another 15 cm or greater throughout the next week.

Inflow from Lake Erie, local inflow, and downstream flooding are contributing to the rise in Lake Ontario water levels.

Downstream, Lake Erie was seeing seasonal record highs as of Sunday and long- term forecasts indicate there will be above average inflow into Lake Ontario for the rest of the spring season.

To make matters worse, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie are expected to continue to rise as heavy precipitation has been forecasted for later this week.

Meanwhile, major flooding continues on the St. Lawrence River as the Ottawa River flows at  record levels.

Locally, the public is advised to check with their local municipality if they require sandbags for flood protection.

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

For current water levels or to report any observations of flooding, residents are encouraged to visit www.QuinteConservation.ca.

The flood watch statement will be in effect until Tues., May 7, 2019 or updated if conditions change.

In other Quinte Conservation, the regional conservation authority downgraded the Moira, Salmon and Napanee River watershed to a flood outlook statement from a flood watch.

The watersheds received approximately 20 mm of rain on Fri., April 26, which was lower than forecasted.

This amount of precipitation did not increase water levels on the Moira River while the Salmon and Napanee Rivers responded to the rainfall and water levels have since peaked.