Highlights:

• The warm weather last week caused the melting snow and rain to raise water levels on smaller watercourses as well as the Thames River itself.
• Water levels on the Thames River around London peaked last Saturday. The peak water level is expected in the city of Chatham on Tuesday during the day.
• As the high water moves downstream, flooding of the low-lying areas adjacent to the river is expected.
• An ice jam is no longer present on the Thames River.

Message:

Most of the Thames River watershed will be experiencing no significant rain throughout the coming week. The forecasted rainfall for the next week is not more than a few millimetres per day from tomorrow until January 16. Only a few cm of snow and freezing temperatures are expected starting Wednesday evening (January 14) to January 16.
The high flows from the Upper Thames watershed has caused the ice to move downstream. Consequently, the small ice jam which was at the mouth of the Thames River at Lighthouse Cove had already moved to the lake and no longer pose a risk of flooding upstream. As of this afternoon, the flow regime in the Thames river is a free flow condition.

As the Thames River gathers water, water levels on the river have been rising. There has been flooding of the low-lying areas adjacent to the river from Delaware down to Thamesville. Based on the Water Survey Canada flow gauge measurement at Byron, the Thames River peaked in London in the late morning of last Saturday. The high-water levels are expected to peak in the City of Chatham tomorrow during the day. In the city of Chatham, the sidewalk along the river in the downtown is currently flooded over. Water levels on the river will continue to rise until tomorrow. Water levels may reach high enough to flood over Simcoe Lane under the 5th St. Bridge. There is no ice jam in the Thames River at this time.

People should take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches, and streams. Any remaining ice on these watercourses should be considered unsafe. The combination of slippery banks, unstable ice conditions, and fast-moving cold water can be dangerous. Standing water can also present its own unseen hazards. Children, pets, and livestock should be kept away from the water. It is not safe to take shelter along riverbanks or in low lying areas that are prone to flooding.

Officials will continue to monitor the situation and update this advisory as necessary.
This message will be in effect until January 16th.

Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected])