Highlights:

• Rainfall Warning issued by Environment Canada for Chatham-Kent, Elgin and Middlesex Counties, with a Special Weather Statement for Essex County.
• Showers and thunderstorms passing through the region could create local rainfall amounts of 50 to 100 mm.
• Heaviest rains already seen have been from the Ridgetown area eastward, with the rain gauge at Ridgetown already recording over 60 mm.
• Some local watercourses have already responded to the heavy rains and are near bank full conditions.

Message:

Environment Canada issued a Special Weather Statement just after 8:00 a.m. this morning for Southwestern Ontario calling for rainfall amounts of 30 to 50 mm, with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms creating up to 100 mm in isolated areas. That message was quickly upgraded around 9:30 a.m. to a Rainfall Warning for Chatham-Kent, Elgin and Middlesex Counties and has been updated again just after 10:00 a.m. The Rainfall Warning suggests local rainfall amounts of 50 to 100 mm could be seen.

Thunderstorms passing through the region have already dropped significant amounts of rain from Chatham eastward. The heaviest rainfall already seen appears to be in the Ridgetown area eastward, with a rain gauge at Ridgetown already recording over 60 mm in just over 3 hours.

In some areas, the heavy rains have already caused ponding and localized flooding in low lying areas. Some local watercourses have already responded and are near bank-full conditions. With the possibility of more rain, and as more water runs off the land into our local watercourses, ditches and streams, some of these smaller local watercourses could spill their banks into adjacent natural floodplain areas.

It is possible that McGregor Creek in Chatham could rise enough that the LTVCA would have to operate the McGregor Creek Diversion Channel and is prepared to do so if necessary.

People should take extra caution and avoid local watercourses, ditches, and streams with elevated water levels. The combination of slippery banks, deep 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 July 4th, 2023.

Message Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected])