Peterborough Public Health Issues Second Frostbite Alert Of The Season

Peterborough Public Health has issued the second Frostbite Alert of the season because forecasted wind chill values are expected to drop to -31 °C early Tuesday morning.

Photo by City of Peterborough.

Extreme cold events are a potentially significant health risk and everyone is encouraged to take precautions to stay safe. Extreme cold temperatures can particularly impact the health of vulnerable populations including infants, the elderly, people with circulatory problems, and the marginally housed. There are various emergency shelters available overnight in the City of Peterborough.

In order to protect the health of people in Peterborough County and City and Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, Peterborough Public Health advises local residents to take the following precautions:

• Check face and extremities frequently for signs of frostbite. Exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 to 30 minutes

• Consider re-scheduling outdoor recreational activities, especially during the evening. There is a serious risk of hypothermia and frostbite if outdoors for long periods.

• Use caution when shoveling snow especially for those that have heart, respiratory (breathing) problems or other medical conditions. Snow shoveling is strenuous and can cause an onset of heart or respiratory problems.

• Check on the elderly or people with disabilities living alone.

Symptoms/signs of frostbite include white/greyish skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, or numbness.

Increases in other health problems can also be seen, especially for those with other chronic medical conditions such as heart conditions.

Further information about the health risks of extreme cold and Peterborough Public Health’s Extreme Cold Response Plan can be found here or by visiting www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and searching for “extreme cold”.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Significant Rainfall Causes Temporary Partial Bypass at the Wastewater Treatment Plant

UPDATE: The temporary partial bypass is over as of 3:25 p.m. Anyone using water from the Otonabee river downstream of the City of Peterborough Wasterwater Treatment Plant should exercise caution for the next 24 hours.

The City of Peterborough issued a statement saying significant rainfall has caused a temporary partial bypass at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday has caused a significantly increased volume of water to enter the Wastewater Treatment Plant. As a result of the current conditions, the City of Peterborough Wastewater Treatment Plant has had to start a temporary, partial bypass.

This means that some partially treated sewage is being discharged to the Otonabee River.

Residents downstream of the City of Peterborough who draw water from the river are advised to take necessary precautions and boil water. The boil water advisory does not affect the City of Peterborough.

The City of Peterborough asks residents to reduce water consumption to help alleviate the volume of water flowing through the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Residents can reduce their water consumption by taking short showers instead of baths, limiting or delaying loads of laundry and turning off taps while brushing teeth and doing dishes.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Flood Watch Issued in Peterborough and Area

A flood watch has been issued to the City of Peterborough and surrounding municipalities by Otonabee Conservation, on Wednesday.

Rainfall on Lansdowne Street, Wednesday. Photo by Davin Tuan Bui.

Municipalities that may be affected are Selwyn, Douro-Dummer, Asphodel-Norwood, Otonabee-South Monaghan, Cavan Monaghan, City of Kawartha Lakes, City of Peterborough and Trent Hills.

From Wednesday - Thursday a moisture-laden low-pressure system and associated cold front is moving through our Region. The system will bring widespread rain and isolated thunderstorms.

Heavy downpours are expected to deliver as much as 15-20 mm in one hour. Total rainfall amounts are expected to be in the order of 40-60mm on Wednesday and another 20 mm on Thursday. Higher amounts are possible due to thunderstorms. Some lingering rainfall may continue over the weekend, but the main concern is heavy downpours and thunderstorms expected Wednesday and Thursday.

Heavy downpours and thunderstorms can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads and low-lying areas. Localized flooding is possible. As a minimum, higher than normal water levels and flows can be expected in lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, and wetlands, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges.

Higher than normal water levels and flows will continue over the weekend as the significant rainfall receipts of today and tomorrow flush through local waterways.

Residents are advised to be extremely cautious around all local lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks because shorelines/riverbanks will be slippery and could be undercut, and currents will be strong. Road-side ditches, wetlands and other low-lying areas may experience unsafe ponding conditions.

Dams and other water control/water conveyance structures are especially dangerous and should always be avoided.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Extreme Cold Alert Issued For The Peterborough Area

With extreme cold in the forecast, the One Roof Community Centre drop-in hours will be extended to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18th and Thursday, December 19th to provide daytime shelter from the cold, the City of Peterborough says in a release.

One Roof Community Centre, which provides services on behalf of the City and County of Peterborough, is located at 99 Brock Street. Its normal operating hours are noon to 7 p.m. daily. For a full description of meals and other services that One Roof provides, click here.

Image via City of Peterborough

Under its agreement with the City, One Roof extends its operating hours when the temperature reaches -15C, and Environment Canada’s forecast for Peterborough shows temperatures falling to -25 with windchill in the afternoon on Wednesday and -20C on Thursday.

Emergency shelters are open and available to people experiencing homelessness who require emergency overnight shelter:

• YES Shelter for Youth and Families, 705-748-3851, 196 Brock St.
• Brock Mission men’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 120 Murray St.
• Cameron House women’s shelter, 705-748-4766, 739 Chemong Rd.
• Overflow shelter program, Peterborough Public Library, 705-761-1875 (overnight phone contact), 345 Aylmer St. N.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Area Alert Issued On Flooding & Dangerous Conditions Around Moving Bodies Of Water

The ongoing rainfall and snowmelt is causing a significantly increased volume of water entering the Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to a City of Peterborough media release. 

As a result of the current conditions, the Wastewater Treatment Plant is now in secondary by-pass mode. This means that while all of the sewage will be screened and will receive primary treatment and UV disinfection, it will not receive the secondary polishing treatment. Residents downstream of Peterborough who draw water from the river are advised to take necessary precautions and boil water.

PTBOCanada file photo

The City of Peterborough is asking residents to reduce water consumption to help alleviate the volume of water flowing through the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Residents can reduce their water consumption by taking short showers instead of baths, limiting or delaying loads of laundry, and turning off taps while brushing teeth and doing dishes.
 
In addition, area residents are reminded of the dangerous conditions posed by the wet ground and fast flowing water, and are advised to stay well back of the shorelines of area lakes, rivers and streams. Similarly, residents are asked to remain away from dam structures and piers.
 
To help prevent basement flooding, people are encouraged to check that ice and snow is cleared from eavestroughs and downspouts, and ensure that groundwater is diverted away from building foundations.

More rain is forecast to fall Tuesday night (about 10 to 15 mm), before tapering off Wednesday morning.

Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada for the latest up-to-date info on weather conditions.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Rainfall Warning In Effect For Area

A rainfall warning has been issued for the area. Several rounds of rain will continue all day and all of the night on Tuesday, producing rainfall amounts of 25 mm to 40 mm through Wednesday morning.

Rapidly melting snowpack combined with significant rainfall will result in swollen rivers and creeks.

Please keep kids, pets and yourself far away from all rivers and creeks in @Ptbo_Canada

— Jay Callaghan (@caltek79) February 19, 2018

Since very mild conditions are accompanying the rain, considerable snowmelt is anticipated. As a result, localized flooding is likely in low-lying areas.

Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada for more info on weather conditions.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Magical Light Pillars Over Peterborough Last Night

Local photographer Jay Callaghan captured these beautiful light pillars over Peterborough on Tuesday night.

The photos were taken by Jay near Parkhill Road and Brealey Drive...

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.

Here's What The Solar Eclipse Looked Like In Lakefield

Tim Rollwagen, an instructor at Lakefield College School, took stunning photos of the solar eclipse on Monday (August 21st) from his driveway in Lakefield.

Photo by Tim Rollwagen

Rollwagen, an outdoors/adventure seeker and weather junkie, tells PTBOCanada he took the photos between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. using a Canon Rebel SL1 camera.

"Having the chance to see this doesn't come around all that often in your life," he tells PTBOCanada. "We have to embrace the wonder of the world when it's here."

Photo by Tim Rollwagen

Rollwagen, who looks forward to the total eclipse expected in 2024—"it would be great to share it with my daughters when they are older"—adds that if you look closely (see the top photo), you can see a bird flying through in one of them. Pretty neat.

Photo by Tim Rollwagen

As Rollwagen tweeted, the clouds only enhanced the dramatic pictures...

Clouds only added to the pictures! #SolarEclispe in @Ptbo_Canada. Hope you all viewed it safely. pic.twitter.com/sjhruKwQK6

— Tim Rollwagen (@trollwag) August 21, 2017

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (ptbo_canada). Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.

Ennismore Woman Recounts Terrifying Lightning Strike On Camp Site

Tonya Kraan had a scary experience while camping at Silent Lake Provincial Park Friday night with family during the lightening storm that many in the Kawarthas experienced.

Tonya was in a tent when the camp site beside her took a direct hit.

She posted this photo below to Facebook showing where it hit: the light strip on the trunk is where the bark peeled off the tree after the strike and chunks hit the ground. "The tree is 1 foot from the trailer in the site beside us," Kraan says. "They had a fireball in their trailer but the fire didn't ignite."

Tonya Kraan (photo via Facebook)

In a prior Facebook post, she describes the damage done to trailers: "We were in tents. Split a tree and fireball went through their trailer. Shot through our site to the comfort station and knocked out the electrical on their water system. Then it shot over to a trailer on the other side of the station and blew their lights and electrical system. All vehicles in its path fried their electronics. Lots of tow trucks en route. Everyone is safe. No injuries. None of us slept a wink..... cant wait to get home and crawl into bed......"

Tonya tells PTBOCanada her tent was about 50 feet north of this tree pictured. They were on the site directly beside theirs...

Picture via Joe Kraan

"The flash was the scariest thing I've ever seen," Kraan adds. "I thought for sure it hit a foot from our tent. My arms were tingling for a minute or two. I was lying on the ground in my sleeping bag. Apparently lying down is the worst position when lightning strikes!!!"

Kraan says it's the worst and last camping trip she'll ever take. "I will never watch a lightning storm the same way again," she tells PTBOCanada.com. "When the strike happened, it felt like a direct hit. The heat and the shock felt like nothing I can really describe. It was like a million car lights coming on at the exact same time—the brightest light I have ever seen. I was lying down in my sleeping bag in our tent and my arms felt like pins and needles for about 15 minutes. I won't ever feel safe camping in a tent again, anywhere."

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (ptbo_canada). Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.

ORCA Warns About Potential Of Serious Flooding In Kawarthas

Otonabee Region Conservation Authority has issued a Flood Warning Update for all watercourses and waterbodies within the Otonabee Region watershed.

Current watershed conditions, combined with the latest weather forecast, suggest that water levels on the Kawartha Lakes (Buckhorn, Chemong, Pigeon, Lower Buckhorn, Lovesick, Stony, Clear and Katchewanooka Lakes) could experience unprecedented heights in the coming days. Therefore, residents on these lakes are advised to prepare now by taking appropriate steps to protect themselves, their family members, their pets and their personal property.

In particular, the following known historical flood-vulnerable areas are advised to take heed of this flood warning (note that this is not an exhaustive list)...

In addition, the Otonabee Conservation advises that the Otonabee River may also experience unprecedented water levels/flows as a result of current watershed conditions, combined with the updated weather forecast.

Therefore, residents located in historically flood-prone areas are hereby advised to take appropriate steps to protect themselves, their family members, their pets and their personal property ahead of the rising waters. In particular, the following known flood-vulnerable areas are advised to take heed of this flood warning: Cambelltown; Rosa Landing Road; Bensfort Bridge area; Jones Road; Deyell Road; Seven Oaks Drive; Wallace Point area; Cedar Bank Road; Green Acres Road; and, Willow Road / Matchett Line area (note that this is not an exhaustive list).

As the Kawartha Lakes and Otonabee River rise, there may also be backwater and/or tailwater conditions that cause flooding on the tributaries to these waterbodies / watercourses including, but are not limited to, Ray’s, Sawer, Jackson, Meade, Byersville, Riverview, Tompson, Bears, Cavan, Baxter and Squirrel Creeks.

Furthermore, throughout the remainder of the Otonabee Region watershed, significant pooling/ponding can be expected in low lying areas where there is poor drainage. As well, local rivers (Indian and Ouse Rivers) and creeks, which are already flowing at rates well-above normal, will continue to experience very high flows, and may even exceed their normal confines in those areas of low sidewalls/banks. Hence, area residents located in historical flood-vulnerable areas are advised to prepare.

Also, area residents, as well as visitors to the area, are advised to observe caution around all waterbodies and watercourses because area lakes, rivers, streams and creeks pose a serious danger due to high levels, very fast flows and extremely cold water temperatures. Dams, culverts and other water control/water conveyance structures are to be avoided at all times.

This is a developing story. Follow @Ptbo_Canada on Twitter for the latest news.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (ptbo_canada). Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here. Watch our PTBOCanada Love video here.