Flood Warning
Date: 10:00 A.M., Sunday, March 15, 2015
Issued to: Municipal Flood Coordinators of Municipalities, Media
Issued by: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority
Watercourses in the region have responded rapidly to yesterday`s warm temperatures. Due to the accumulated ice and snow across the watershed, the smaller watercourses are behaving unpredictably. Some of the region`s watercourse have reached bank full conditions or even topped their banks while others still remain low. In some areas, the accumulated ice and snow is making it difficult for water to get off the landscape and localized flooding is occurring. McGregor Creek rose rapidly yesterday evening and the Conservation Authority is now operating the Indian-McGregor Creek Diversion Channel. Meanwhile, in Chatham this morning, Indian Creek was still within its banks.
Ice cover on the Thames River has degraded even further. Increased flows have caused water levels to rise slightly causing the ice to pull away from the banks. In addition, warm water inputs from local drainage and storm sewers have melted the ice along the banks. It is no longer safe to access the river for recreational activities. The ice sheet on the river remains largely intact but there are stretches that are opening up. We do not expect to see flooding from the Thames River over the next few days but conditions could change rapidly.
There is still quite a bit of snow across the watershed that will continue to melting today and into early next week. Daytime high temperatures for today and tomorrow are expected to be around 10˚C and not drop back below freezing overnight. This will cause the region’s local watercourses to rise even further.
People should take extra caution and avoid the river, lakes, ditches, streams, and ponds. The combination of slippery banks, moving/melting ice and cold water is particularly dangerous. Parents should pay special attention to keep their children away from the water during this March Break.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority will continue to monitor conditions and will issue additional messages as required.
Contact: Jason Wintermute (519-354-7310 x227 or this email address) regarding this message.
This message will be in effect until March 17th unless revised.