Lake Simcoe Shoreline Status

SHORELINE HAZARD WATCH – HIGH RISK UPDATE

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

120 Bayview Parkway, Newmarket, Ont., L3Y 3W3

Telephone: (905) 895-1281 Fax: (905) 853-5881

Issued to the following groups:

1)         Municipalities and Local Conservation Authorities

2)         School Boards, Police and Media

3)         Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation

4)         LSRCA Board of Directors and all LSRCA Employees

Date:   April 13^th, 2026

Time:   12:30 pm.

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority advises that the water levels in Lake Simcoe are currently 219.23 m and are higher than average for this time of year. Currently, the water level in Lake Simcoe is rising 2 to 3 centimetres per day and is expected to continue rising.

The Lake Simcoe watershed received approximately 25 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours. An additional 30 to 40 mm of rainfall is forecast beginning Tuesday and continuing until Thursday.

Forecasted rainfall combined with flows working through the system continue to drive lake levels upward. These higher-than-average water levels are posing a significant risk of flooding along the Lake Simcoe shoreline. Flooding has been reported in some localized low-lying areas, including the Jackson’s Point and Ramara areas. There is a high risk of dike failures in the Keswick, Kolbar and Bradford polders. Depending on wind conditions, there may be localized storm surge/seiche effects, leading to increased flooding.

Portions of the lake ice have melted and the remaining ice is expected to break up soon. Some ice remains and ice pile-up on shorelines is possible.

Lake Simcoe Water Level

Currently the lake level is approximately 8 centimetres higher than the average annual high-water level. The current water-level in Lake Simcoe is 219.23 m and is expected to increase further.

The following is a summary of the recent water levels on Lake Simcoe:

• April 13, 2026 (Current): 219.23 m
• April 12,2026:219.21 m
• April 8, 2026: 219.19 m
• March 31, 2026: 219.06 m
• March 5, 2026: 218.75 m
  
  

Water Safety

Please exercise extreme caution around all bodies of water. Please alert any children under your care to stay away from all watercourses and other bodies of water; and supervise their activities.

Residents, especially in the historically flood-prone areas, are advised to take necessary precautions to protect themselves, their pets, and their property. Municipalities and property owners in low-lying shoreline areas should prepare for flooding and be advised that sandbagging may be needed.

This Shoreline Hazard Watch – High Risk will be in effect through April 27^th, 2026, or until otherwise updated.  This statement replaces the April 10^th, 2026, statement due to expire on April 24^th, 2026.

For further information, please contact the following person at (905) 895-1281:

Mohammad Hajiseyedjavadi, M.Eng.

Duty Officer

Shoreline Hazard Watch – High Risk: 

• significant shoreline flooding due to extreme lake levels
• significant storm surge/seiche causing flooding in low lying shoreline areas exposed to prevailing winds
• high risk for dock, boathouse and shoreline damage for areas exposed to prevailing winds
• high risk to dike failures in the Keswick, Kolbar and Bradford polders impacting agricultural lands