Highlights:

• There is currently flooding along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent with floodwaters over the road in several locations.
• All non-essential traffic should avoid the area to ensure municipal staff and/or emergency services can access the area if required.
• Gale Warning remains in effect for Western Lake Erie.
• Current forecasts suggest flooding to peak around 2:00 pm and could continue into the evening.

Message:

There is currently flooding along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent. There is water on many properties and around some of the homes. Floodwaters have made it onto the roadway in several locations. All non-essential traffic should avoid the area to ensure that municipal staff and/or emergency services can access the area if required.

A Gale Warning remains in effect for western Lake Erie. Forecasts suggest that flooding will peak around 2:00 pm when winds are expected to begin to ease off slightly. The latest forecasts from the Weather Network suggest winds could reach 75 km/hr from the southwest with gusts of 115 km/hr at that time. Other forecasts suggest winds might not get that high, but worsening flooding should be expected. In the afternoon, winds are also expected to switch more westerly. When this occurs, flooding will also drop off in the area. However, the timing of that is less certain. Flooding could continue into the evening period.

Again, people are being asked to avoid the area. The waves on the lakes can be strong, and the shoreline slippery. There could also be hazardous debris within the waves and water which could be thrown onto the shoreline. Standing water can also present unseen hazards. Children especially should be kept away from the water.

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

The previously issued Flood Watch remains in effect for other areas of the Lake Erie shoreline.

This message will be in effect until November 16, 2020

Message Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected])