Special weather statement issued

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the North Bay area.

The area includes North Bay, Powassan, Mattawa and West Nipissing.

It calls for rain  today, tonight and overnight.

There’s also a few thunderstorms in the forecast for this evening.

The total amount of rainfall will vary throughout the district but atleast 10 mm in the North Bay area.

The statement says the rain may be heavy at times.

The temperature will rise to 8 and potentially significant snowmelt and localized ponding on streets and other low lying areas is expected.

Meantime, the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority says flooding is not expected despite the combination of snowfall yesterday and expected rain today.

The NBMCA Duty Officer says that’s because water levels are normally low for this time of year but the runoff will increase today and tomorrow.

He says precipitation will vary in the district from 5-25 mm of rain by tonight and residents may see water accumulating on roadways, at parking lots and in low lying areas too.

People are advised to keep children and pets away from watercourses which may have unsafe ice.