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The Ottawa River is expected to stop rising for now in the Ottawa-Gatineau area by the middle of the week, according to the latest forecast. <\/p>\n
Sunday afternoon’s update from the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board said the more western Pembroke, Lac Coulonge and Arnprior water levels are stable at flood levels well above average and what they saw last year. <\/p>\n
They should all end up about 60 centimetres below their all-time records in 2019<\/a> for this rise, which is being pushed along by days of rain and snow melting further north.<\/p>\n Communities further downstream, or east, were expected to see higher water before levelling off on Tuesday or Wednesday.<\/p>\n Britannia and Thurso could see about another 25 centimetres rise from Sunday’s mark and Hull could see about 40 centimetres, according to the board. They are all expected to stay at least 60 centimetres from all-time records of the last decade.<\/p>\n Major flooding, which means a significant number of buildings and streets have been affected, is expected in much of the area for the fourth time in the last 10 years after 2017, 2019 and 2023.<\/p>\n The Pembroke area is not expected to reach that major level.<\/p>\n Last year was generally considered a minor flood. <\/p>\n Fort-Coulonge state of emergency<\/p>\n Fort-Coulonge, Que., declared a state of emergency<\/a> on Sunday evening to help its flooding response. <\/p>\n The community of about 1,300 people west of Gatineau has set up two dikes and closed its Marchand Bridge, also known as the Red Bridge. <\/p>\n Free sand is available at the arena on rue du Centre R\u00e9cr\u00e9atif. People who need bags can call 819-664-0301.<\/p>\n Residents are asked to limit use of drinking water to help the water treatment plant.<\/p>\n There is a growing list of road closures across the region because of flooding.<\/p>\n Over the weekend the Highway 50 eastbound ramp to Gatineau’s rue Saint-Louis was closed because of water levels, as it has in past spring floods. <\/p>\n Gatineau has several flooding-related road closures and restrictions<\/a>, mostly between Pointe-Gatineau and Templeton, and Ottawa has two near its east end: Tweddle Road to Petrie Island and Bois\u00e9 Lane.<\/p>\n WATCH | A look at Petrie Island on Monday: Residents monitor high Ottawa River water levels<\/p>\n Rising water levels on the Ottawa River have already shut road access to Petrie Island. Residents are watching the forecast for what happens next. Joseph Tunney reports.<\/p>\n The Ecolos ferry<\/a> between Thurso and Clarence-Rockland is closed and there are restrictions on the Bourbonnais ferry between Cumberland and Masson-Angers. The Quyon Ferry has regular service.<\/p>\n Many flood-affected municipalities are offering sand and\/or bags, closing roads and making other changes, such as Arnprior<\/a>, Clarence-Rockland<\/a>, Grenville-sur-la-Rouge<\/a>, Mansfield-et-Pontefract<\/a> and Whitewater Region<\/a>. Check with yours for the latest information.<\/p>\n Off the Ottawa River, there are flood watches \u2014 the second-highest level on the province’s four-level scale \u2014 along the Mississippi River<\/a>, the Tay Valley and Rideau Lakes areas<\/a> on the Rideau River watershed and for inland waterways in Quinte Conservation<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Several](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776708549_54_default.jpg\")
Rues Jacques-Cartier and Saint-Louis in Pointe-Gatineau on April 20, 2026. (Patrick Foucault\/Radio-Canada)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776708550_386_default.jpg\")
The Marchand Bridge, also known as the Red Bridge, has been closed because of high water in Fort-Coulonge, Que. (Simon Lasalle\/Radio-Canada)More of the response<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776708550_36_default.jpg\")
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