Ottawa

How high could the Ottawa River get: Saturday's forecast

The risk of more flooding along the Ottawa River continues as water levels are expected to rise about half a metre higher than the peak in May 2017.

Regulator released updated forecast late Saturday afternoon

Sandbags face the rising flood waters of the Ottawa River behind the Belltown Dome in Britannia. (Robyn Miller/CBC)

The risk of more flooding along the Ottawa River continues as water levels are expected to rise about half a metre higher than the peaks seen in May 2017.

The river is expected to swell over the weekend and into next week, according to the Ottawa River Regulating Committee, which controls reservoir levels along the length of the river basin.

According to the committee's water levels forecast at 5 p.m. Saturday, the river as far west as Pembroke, Ont. — about 140 kilometres upstream of Ottawa — is expected to rise sharply starting Monday.

Levels are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The water has already surpassed 2017 flood levels in Pembroke, Lac Coulonge and Lac Chats (Arnprior).

The next update is expected at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Can't see the infographics above? Click here for this year's forecasted river level peaks, and click here to see how much higher water levels are expected to be this year than in 2017.