There is currently lakeshore flooding along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent.  Chatham-Kent municipal staff are responding to the flooding.  Erie Shore Drive may be closed to traffic this afternoon. 

Southerly winds are driving waves 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.  The flooding along Erie Shore Drive is being caused by waves crashing against the shoreline protection spraying water up onto the land.  The same effect could occur along other areas of the Lake Erie Shoreline causing localized flooding.   Residents along the Lake Erie shoreline should be prepared. 

Weather forecasts and local weather gauges suggest that the Lake Erie shoreline in the Lower Thames is currently experiencing sustained winds of 30 to 40 km/hr from the southwest with gusts up to 55 km/hr.  Weather forecasts suggest that the winds can be expected to stay like this throughout the afternoon until they being to diminish late this evening and overnight.  Winds are expected to increase Friday morning again to speeds only slightly below what they are now.  Environment Canada’s Marine Forecasts are predicting wave heights on Lake Erie to be around 1m, diminishing to 0.5m overnight.  Water levels at Erieau are approximately 20cm below the record high monthly averages of 1986, similar to where they’ve been for the last few months.

Residents should pay attention to weather forecasts and predicted winds over the next few days.

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 July 1st, 2017.

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