Authorities Warn Torontonians to Stay Away From Rivers and Lakes After Heavy Rainfall

A woman holds an umbrella to protect herself from freezing rain as she waits for a streetcar in Toronto on Feb. 18, 2026. The Canadian Press/Chris Young

Toronto residents are being urged to steer clear of waterways and exercise caution while travelling after heavy weekend rainfall in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) heightened the risk of dangerous conditions.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority issued a water safety advisory on March 22, saying the combination of rain, warmer temperatures, and melting snow could result in elevated water levels in rivers throughout the region.

“Stay away from all rivers, streams & shorelines as they are dangerous at this time,” the conservation authority said in its advisory posted to X.

It also said flooding was not anticipated, but it cautioned residents to remain vigilant.

Toronto received 10.9 millimetres of rain on March 22, according to local estimates, but it appears that the worst of the wet weather has passed. Environment Canada is forecasting little rain in Toronto this week.

The advisory in Toronto comes after a major storm earlier this month resulted in flood warnings for vast regions of southern and central Ontario.

Most have been downgraded to water safety advisories, but flood warnings remain active in three regions.

Flood watches are still in effect for the communities along the Trent River and those near the Trent-Severn Waterway in central Ontario as well as for a community in the southwestern part of the province, according to Ontario’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Program.

Flood Warnings

Lower Trent Conservation is warning communities located in Hastings and Northumberland counties that high water levels and unsafe banks along the Trent River could be dangerous for recreational users and waterfront landowners.

It is also warning of flooding in lower-lying areas but that risk could increase as snow continues to melt, the conservation authority said in an advisory valid through April 2.

“There is still significant remaining snowpack in the northern areas. Outflows from the Kawartha Lakes, through the Otonabee River, into Rice Lake and down the Trent River are elevated and are expected to slowly increase over the next 5 days,” the March 19 advisory said. “Additionally, flows into the Trent River from the Crowe River are currently elevated and trending upwards.”

High water levels could cause flooding of driveways, access roads, or buildings, the post said, and advised residents near the Trent to secure personal property along the riverbanks.

The Otonabee Conservation Authority said recent warmer temperatures and precipitation in the Haliburton-Reservoir Lakes area are responsible for the ongoing flood watch in the Trent-Severn Waterway located within the Otonabee Region watershed. It has resulted in a notable increase in water runoff, which has caused elevated flows in the rivers and streams that run south into the Kawartha Lakes and Otonabee River.

“As a result, there is potential for nuisance to minor-level flooding of low-lying, flood vulnerable areas, starting this week and continuing through next week,” the conservation authority said in a March 18 post on its website.

The Saugeen Conservation Authority has reduced its flood warning advisory to a flood watch for Pinkerton, a rural community near Walkerton in southwestern Ontario.

Flooding from the Teeswater River remains localized to Pinkerton and is not expected to impact nearby or downstream areas, the conservation authority said in an advisory valid through March 25.

“The Teeswater River continues to flow through low-lying areas in Pinkerton and impacted residences remain at a heightened risk of flooding,” it said.

At least 14 conservation authorities stretching from Ottawa to Sarnia also have water safety advisories that remain in effect.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.