Weather forecasts are calling for strong winds Saturday afternoon and evening from a south to southwest direction. Winds are expected to peak in the late afternoon and sustained wind speeds could reach 55 km/hr with gusts of up to 75 km/hr.

The southerly winds will be pushing waves onshore along most of the Lake Erie shoreline in the Lower Thames jurisdiction. There is a risk that wave action could damage shoreline protection works and cause shoreline erosion in vulnerable areas. Last year flooding had occurred along Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent when the area experienced sustained winds above 35 km/hr from a southerly direction (southeast through southwest). Therefore, the wind speeds and direction forecasted for Saturday could cause flooding in this area. Residents in vulnerable areas along the Lake Erie shoreline should pay attention to local conditions.

People should take extra caution and avoid the shoreline should conditions get rough. The waves can be strong and the shoreline slippery. There could also be hazardous debris within the waves and water which could be thrown onto the shoreline. Standing water and ice can also present their 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.

Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected]) regarding this message.
This message will be in effect until April 1st, 2018.