Environment Canada’s Marine Forecast has issued a Gale Warning for western Lake Erie due to predicted high winds overnight and tomorrow morning. During this period, sustained winds over 35 km/hr from the southwest are expected, peaking overnight somewhere between 45 and 65 km/hr depending on the forecaster. Wind gusts are predicted to reach 80 km/hr. The Marine Forecast is predicting wave heights to build to 3 m by tomorrow morning. This high wind event coincides with a rainfall event that is predicted to drop 10 to 15 mm of rain.

A milder event is predicted for later tomorrow during the late evening and early overnight. During this period winds are expected to range from 35 to 45 km/hr from the southwest with gusts up to 65 km/hr.

Southwesterly winds will be 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. Vulnerable areas will likely see localized flooding due to waves crashing against shoreline protection works spraying water up onto the land. Any such flooding would be aggravated by the associated rainfall being predicted. The predicted wind speeds and wave heights are similar to, or exceed, those that caused flooding earlier this year along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent. Residents along the Lake Erie shoreline should be prepared.

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 November 3rd, 2017.

Contact: Jason Wintermute (519-354-7310 x 227, [email protected]) regarding this message.