Freezing rain causing trees to fall and water levels to rise in Timmins
People in Timmins are in cleanup mode and it's got nothing to do with snow. Timmins Tree Service has received dozens of calls to clean up fallen trees.
"There’s trees down all over the place," said Taylor Dayment.
"We started the day off ... with a tree broken on top of three cars. So we’re just trying to prioritize the stuff that’s already down and the massive dangers and we’ll be busy with cleanup after that."
Freezing rain overnight loaded up trees with ice and persistent rain all day long Friday added weight, especially to tree tops.
Melissa Lacoursiere, who takes her dog for daily walks in the Hersey Lake Conservation Area, was met with fallen trees on the trails.
"It was terrifying actually," she told CTV News.
"It was like an obstacle course and as I rerouted to head back to the car there were literally trees falling all around me."
The Mattagami Region Conservation Authority said it has closed the area it maintains, until crews can clean up.
There are other areas where people need to be careful where they drive. Mark Joron, a forestry technician, said he has some operations down Pine Street, but can't get down there because a culvert has been washed out.
"You can’t even get to (Highway) 560 going that way and it’ll be closed for the weekend even,” Joron said.
“And there were two other roads that just there’s so much water when the road gets saturated as soon as it starts to go over the road, it just washes right out.”
The Timmins Flood Advisory Committee has issued flood warnings for two bodies of water: the Mattagami River and Porcupine Lake.
“We have received in the last week, 140 millimetres of rain -- yesterday we got 62 millimetres in one day," said David Vallier, general manager of the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority.
“The average for the last 15 years in November is about 58 to 60 millimetres, so we beat the average for the month in one day.”
Vallier said it's common to see ponding in low lying areas right now. He said people who live in or near flood prone areas are encouraged to monitor conditions and the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority website for updates.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.