Highlights:

• A Special Weather Statement has been issued by ECCC due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in the forecast.
• Many areas of the watershed have seen significant rain over the last few days.
• Forecasts calling for 10 to 20 mm of rain tonight, with the possibility of additional rain from thundershowers.
• The Special Weather Statement suggests rainfall amounts of 40 mm or greater are possible.
• Areas of ponding, standing water, and localized flooding could be expected around the region.
• Smaller watercourses could rise and some could spill their banks into adjacent low-lying areas.

Message:

A Special Weather Statement has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) due to heavy rains and thunderstorms in the forecast for tonight. Forecasts are currently calling for 10 to 20 mm of rain this evening and overnight, with the possibility that thunderstorms could drop an additional 10 to 25 mm on top of that. The Special Weather Statement suggests rainfall amounts of 40 mm or greater are possible. Additional Watches or Warnings may be issued by ECCC as the weather system gets closer.

Over the last few days, a series of thunderstorms have passed through the region dropping significant amounts of rain throughout much (but not all) of the watershed. The most significant of these came through Sunday, which dropped over 50 mm across much of eastern Chatham-Kent and Elgin County. Additional thunderstorms passed through the region yesterday dropping more rain across the eastern Chatham-Kent and Middlesex County portions of the lower Thames River watershed. Should significant amounts of rain fall on those areas still drying out from the previous rains, smaller local watercourses are likely to respond rapidly to the rain.

Should the region see the higher amounts of rainfall predicted, there could be ponding, standing water, and localized flooding in some areas. Smaller watercourses in affected areas could be expected to rise and some could spill their banks into nearby low-lying areas. Depending on how much rain falls and where, the LTVCA may have to operate the McGregor Creek Diversion Channel in Chatham.

Based on the current forecasts, the Thames River is not expected to rise significantly in response to the rain.

People should take extra caution and avoid the watercourses, ditches, and stream that are running high. The combination of slippery banks and fast-moving water can be dangerous. 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 as necessary.

This message will be in effect until the morning of June 19th.

Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected])