Winter Flooding: Ice Jams
Flooding from rivers can happen any time of the year. Ice jams are a type of riverine flooding that can occur in winter and early spring.
Through our Flood Forecasting and Warning Program, we continuously monitor waterways and weather conditions for potential flood conditions in the Credit River Watershed.
Ice Jam Science
Warmer temperatures, changes in water levels or rainfall in the winter can cause river ice to melt and break apart into large chunks. River ice can become jammed at bridges and other river crossings as it moves downstream. It can form an ice jam that may cause flooding.
Ice jams are difficult to predict and can develop rapidly, given the different factors that cause them, including weather conditions, river flow, the shape of river channels and direction.
Beginning in spring, seasonal rise in water levels can also happen on Lake Ontario due to runoff from rivers that drain into it. Higher water levels together with waves and wind can increase the risk of shoreline flooding.
Ice Jams on the Credit River
Ice jams form somewhere along the Credit River on average every 2.2 years. Since 1912, there have been at least 46 documented ice jam flooding events. Let’s take a look back where ice jams have formed.
1912: Glen Williams
1965: Glen Williams
1980: Glen Williams
2018: Meadowvale Village
2022: Churchville (Brampton)
How to Stay Informed
We issue flood alerts when flooding is possible. Municipal emergency management officials then take action to provide emergency services as needed.
These messages can be found on our homepage, Facebook account, X (Twitter) account and Alertable.
Alertable App, a community public alert system, offers residents real-time flood alerts. It’s free to sign up and receive alerts through push notifications on your mobile device, SMS (text messages), email and/or landline phone call.
Stay up-to-date on CVC flood warnings without having to actively search for that information with Alertable. Make sure you have critical information at your fingertips when it matters most, because every second counts in a flood emergency. Sign up for notifications on the Alertable website.
Download our factsheet for a quick reference of who to contact during a flood.
By Sophia Maio, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications.