Ten to 15 millimetres of rain is in the forecast for the Peterborough area on Thursday night.

Conservation authorities in Peterborough and Northumberland County are monitoring the situation and have issued water-level-related statements ahead of the spring storm.

Ice jams are the concern in Northumberland County. The Ganaraska River has ice jams to the north of Port Hope.

“Port Hope is looking pretty good. The municipality has had their contractor in to move the ice out, they’ve broken up the ice cover and it’s flowed out into the lake,” said Mike Smith, water resources technician with Ganarasaka Conservation.

“Any ice coming down the Ganaraska River should just flow out into the lake without any issues.”

Ganaraska Conservation has a water safety bulletin out warning of the possibility of minor flooding in low-lying areas and in ditches and culverts.

“We’re not expecting a ton of rain, but with the snowmelt and with the ice moving around in the channels, there is potential of localized flooding in some areas,” added Smith.

To the east of the area, the concern is along the shoreline of Lake Ontario.

Strong southerly winds are in the forecast for Friday.

Officials with Lower Trent Conservation (LTC) say there is a chance of ice flowing out of the lake and onto the shore.

“That can sustain some property damage and shoreline damage,” said Janet Noyes, manager of development services and water resources with LTC.

LTC’s flood outlook statement, which is in effect for an area from Lake Ontario north to Rice Lake, will be in place until Monday.

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