Gatineau Prepares for Potential Second Flood

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Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for much of the area. The Ottawa River board indicates that water levels may rise gradually. Gatineau is advising residents to prepare for a possible second flood. The Pembroke area could see another peak this week.

The City of Gatineau is urging those living near the Ottawa River to gather supplies and sandbags due to concerns about another influx of floodwaters in the coming days.

This advice follows Environment Canada’s forecast of significant rainfall across most of eastern Ontario and western Quebec starting late Wednesday.

The city’s flood update on Tuesday referenced information from the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board, which warned of a gradual increase in water levels in certain areas beginning either Wednesday or Thursday.

“The possibility of a second peak within Gatineau cannot be dismissed,” the city said.

In its own update on Tuesday, the board noted that water levels and flows on the Ottawa River could slowly rise over the next few days due to rain and melting snow from further north.

The expected rise by Friday ranges from five centimetres around Fort-Coulonge to 10 centimetres in Pembroke and approximately 20 centimetres in Hull and Thurso.

All local stations except for Pembroke are anticipated to remain below this season’s previous peak during this workweek.

Gatineau, Que., firefighters work near one of their boats in an area near the Ottawa River on April 21, 2026. (Jason Mac Lellan/CBC)

Also on Tuesday, Environment Canada issued a yellow rainfall warning for central and eastern parts of the region, noting the potential for about 30 to 40 millimetres of rain beginning late Wednesday, according to their predictions.

This warning covers communities from Maniwaki south through Ottawa-Gatineau down to Kingston but should miss Pembroke, Bancroft, and Belleville.

In anticipation of rising water levels, Gatineau has announced that trash collection will be temporarily suspended on roads impacted by flooding.

What you need to know

In Ottawa, there were 15 locations as of Monday morning where residents could pick up sand and sandbags.

The city maintains an updated list of road closures and pathways along with an interactive map.

The City of Gatineau also provides an interactive map showing road closures along with sandbag stations and waste drop-off sites in areas most affected by flooding.

Sandbag-loading equipment is available at parc du Lac-Beauchamp.

A number of roads have been impacted by flooding; some can only be accessed by boat. City officials have indicated that some roads may soon reopen for local traffic.

A flood relief center is operating at Centre sportif de Gatineau located at 850 boul. de la Gappe daily from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m., with showers available at Lucien-Houle and Paul-Pelletier pools.

The Ecolos ferry between Clarence-Rockland, Ont., and Thurso, Que., remains closed while restrictions are still in place for Bourbonnais ferry service between Gatineau’s Masson-Angers area and Cumberland in east Ottawa.

Residents outside Ottawa-Gatineau can check their municipality’s website for updates regarding flooding in their regions.

Apart from the Ottawa River, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority has downgraded its flood warning to a flood watch concerning Dalhousie Lake as well as other areas prone to flooding along the Mississippi River.

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