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The massive March snowstorm, complete with freezing rain, that shut just about everything down and left Manitoulin residents with giant ice-filled snowbanks, which thanks to the recent massive downpour have largely disappeared that, ironically, brought about flooding that has resulted in dozens of road closures and a number of evacuations.
Observers will have noticed that the ditches along Island roads were, until this week, still filled with this snow and ice which hadn’t dissipated a great deal because the temperatures had largely remained low. 

Island municipal road crews had nearly just finished clearing all of the culverts that help move water during the spring runoff when they had to go back out and do it all over again thanks to the late snowstorms. The rains combined with snow/ice-filled ditches blocked a great deal of the usual drainage system, contributing to flooding from the ensuing overflow.

Although most Island communities have in place their own emergency plans, the recent crisis highlights the need for a coordinated, Island-wide plan should a similar situation arise in the future. As we well know the adage ‘April showers bring May flowers’ means this month is historically one with plenty of precipitation, but with the advent of the erratic weather patterns predicted with climate change (whether one accepts the idea it is human caused or not) means that we will be seeing a lot more of this in future years.