Ottawa River water levels stable near capital, second flood peak still possible

The Ottawa River at the Alexandra Bridge in Ottawa. Rising water levels have flooded low-lying areas along the river in Ottawa and Gatineau. (CTV News Ottawa)

Water levels near the capital on the Ottawa River continue to stabilize but the possibility of a second peak remains.

According to the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, water levels at Lake Deschenes/Brittania did not change since yesterday and remain at 60.10 metres.

In Gatineau, water levels near Hull dropped by 5 centimetres, falling to 44.17 metres.

The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board says water levels rose from Mattawa to Pembroke. The planning board continues to warn that a second peak east of Pembroke could be on the horizon.

“The rate of snowmelt in the northern portion of the basin and the potential for rainfall over the coming weeks remain uncertain,” the board wrote in a bulletin on Saturday afternoon. “As a result, in the coming weeks, a second flood peak remains possible from Pembroke to the Montreal region, as well as the possibility of levels at Mattawa exceeding major flood levels for the first time.”

The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board says a rapid snowmelt combined with rainfall could lead to higher water levels than those experienced between April 19 and April 22.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App