Canada ~ Next big worry is Flooding

Flooding the next big worry this spring

Eyes on river levels.

Spiking temperature, not snow, is the main threat, officials say

KATHERINE WILTON, The GazettePublished: Wednesday, March 12

Montrealers might be pining for an early, balmy spring. Civil protection officials are crossing their fingers, however, hoping for a slow transition to warmer temperatures to avoid severe flooding because of the huge amount of snow that has fallen this winter.

As the person who heads Montreal's emergency-preparedness centre, Valérie Gagnon worries that a spike in temperatures over several days could lead to flooding on the Rivière des Prairies, causing water to seep into basements in flood-prone areas like Pierrefonds and Ahuntsic.

Although the snowfall in the Montreal region is close to record levels, it doesn't necessarily mean flooding will occur this spring, Gagnon said yesterday.