A flood advisory has been issued for low-lying areas on the Rideau River as officials keep a close eye on the forecast.

More than 30 mm of rain is expected to fall over the next couple of days, following what has already been one of the wettest Aprils in years.

Patrick Larson, a spokesman for the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, said residents should brace themselves for a very wet Thursday.

"The advisory is intended to give that advance warning, so we're talking about a situation that we expect will happen in the next two days," he said. "So by Thursday, if there is going to be flooding, that is when it will be."

Keep away from streams, ditches

Larson warned that the water is climbing and moving fast, so it's best to stay away from streams and ditches.

Neighbourhoods that are at risk of flooding, according to the conservation authority, include:

  • Brewer, Windsor, Brantwood parks as well as neigbourhoods near the Cummings Bridge
  • Parts of Richmond
  • Perth and upstream to Glen Tay

This April is currently only a few rainfalls shy of breaking the all-time rainfall record in the region for the month.

Reporting from Strathcona Park, CBC News Ottawa's Jeff Semple said the Rideau River was higher than normal at this time of year, but that the real concern was the speed with which the river was moving.

Rain sets back farmers

"It's moving right now at about 180 cubic metres per second — about twice as fast as the river should be flowing at this time of year," he said, adding it was a direct result of the record rainfall.

The April showers have already turned Robin Turner's organic vegetable farm into a puddle of mud at a time when he typically has seeds in the ground.

"We basically just can't get into the field with any of our equipment," he said. "It's really bad for the health of the soil."

Turner said the rainfall pushes back the season for other farms in terms of what they can offer. The local farmers market, set to open at Lansdowne Park on Sunday, is expected to be short by a few vendors for a while, as Turner and others wait for the soil to dry up.

Tulips could benefit

"It's really hard," Turner said. "It's really tough to just have to sit there and wait."

As for a silver lining in all the dark clouds, the National Capital Commission predicted the April weather would make for perfect conditions in the lead-up to next month's Tulip Festival.

"We should get a good three-week blooming season this year," said Mario Fournier, the NCC's manager in charge of parks and green spaces around Ottawa. "We're just right on target."

For more information and updates on neighbourhoods at risk at flooding, residents are advised to log onto the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority website.