Environment Canada’s Marine Forecast has issued a Gale Warning for western Lake Erie due to predicted high winds this afternoon through Tuesday evening.  Weather forecasts are calling for winds greater than 35 km/hr from the west into tomorrow morning when they are expected to shift to the southwest and finally switch to the northwest Tuesday evening.  Winds are expected to peak tomorrow evening with sustained wind speeds between 50 and 65 km/hr depending on the forecast.  Gust could reach 80 km/hr.  Environment Canada’s Marine Forecast is predicting wave heights to build to 2 m tomorrow around noon and to 3 m by the evening.

For the rest of today and into tomorrow morning while the winds remain out of the west, the winds will be mostly offshore.  However, should they switch to a more southerly direction during this period there could be impacts along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent.  While the winds are from the southwest, tomorrow and Tuesday, the waves will be driving onto our Lake Erie shoreline in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County. There is a risk that wave action could damage shoreline protection works and cause shoreline erosion.  Vulnerable areas will likely see localized flooding due to waves crashing against shoreline protection works spraying water up onto the land.  The predicted wind speeds and wave heights are similar to, and at their predicted peak well exceed, those that caused flooding earlier this year along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent.  Residents along the Lake Erie shoreline should be prepared.

People should take extra caution and avoid the shoreline.  The waves can be strong and the shoreline slippery.  There could also be hazardous debris within the waves and water.  Standing water can also present its own unseen hazards.  Children, pets and livestock should be kept away from the water.

Officials will continue to monitor the situation and update this advisory if necessary.

This message will be in effect until November 22nd, 2017.

Contact:  Jason Wintermute (519-354-7310 x227, [email protected]) regarding this message.