Highlights:

• Strong Wind Warnings issued for both Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair due to strong winds in the forecast this Thursday and Friday morning.
• Risk of shoreline damage, erosion and/or flooding along Lake Erie, including the high bluff areas and Erie Shore Drive, on Thursday during the day and lasting into the evening.
• Risk of shoreline damage, erosion and/or flooding along Lake St. Clair, including Lighthouse Cove, Thursday overnight into Friday morning.

Message:

Strong Wind Warnings have been issued by Environment Canada due to strong winds in the forecast for Thursday through Friday morning. Forecasts call for winds from the south to strengthen Thursday morning and could exceed 35 km/hr before noon in the vicinity of the Lake Erie shoreline. Forecasts also suggest that those winds could peak at sustained speeds between 40 and 50 km/hr from the south or southwest sometime Thursday evening with wind gusts between 65 and 80 km/hr. Winds are then predicted to switch to the west then northwest overnight and to remain from that direction throughout the day Friday. During the overnight and early morning period, forecasts are calling for sustained wind speeds around 35 km/hr on the Lake St. Clair shoreline. Winds are then predicted to begin dropping late in the morning on Friday. The Marine Forecast is predicting waves of 2 to 3 m in height on Lake Erie for Thursday evening, but it’s too early for them to post wave height predictions on Lake St. Clair for Friday morning.

There is a risk that wave action could damage shoreline protection works and cause erosion along the shorelines of both Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair over the next couple of days. Winds will be driving waves onto the Lake Erie shoreline in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County throughout the day and evening on Thursday. The area most vulnerable at this time would be Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent. However, other areas of the shoreline could also be impacted, including along the high bluff areas. When the winds switch to the northwest overnight, winds will be driving waves onto the Lake St. Clair shoreline in Lakeshore and Chatham-Kent, overnight Thursday into Friday morning. The area most vulnerable at this time would be Lighthouse Cove in Lakeshore. For both Erie Shore Drive and Lighthouse Cove, flooding due to wave spray tends to begin when winds reach around 30 km/hr, depending on the wind direction. Residents should pay attention to local conditions and be prepared.

People should take extra caution and avoid the shoreline should conditions get rough. The waves can be strong and the shoreline slippery. There could also be hazardous debris within the waves and water which could be thrown onto the shore. Standing water can also present unseen hazards. Children and animals 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 23, 2019.

Message Contact: Jason Wintermute (519-354-7310 x227, [email protected])