Date: 10:00 P.M., Monday, March 28, 2016

Issued to: Municipal Flood Coordinators of Municipalities, Media

Issued by: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Last night and this morning, the Lower Thames watershed received between 15 and 30 mm of rain.  The ground was already saturated from rain late last week and had little capacity to absorb the rainfall.

Many smaller, local watercourses were either running full or had spilled their banks.  These watercourses have peaked and water levels are now declining.  However, water levels still remain high on these watercourses, especially those being influenced by high water levels on the Thames River such as Indian and McGregor Creeks around the City of Chatham.  The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is currently operating the Indian-McGregor Creek Diversion Channel.

In the City of Chatham, water levels on the Thames River received an additional boost due to the recent rain.  However, those water levels are now in decline also; although very slowly.  The risk of basement flooding for those businesses along King St. has passed.  Although the LTVCA prepared the the 6th Street Dam for operations, it did not have to operate the Dam.

Currently, water levels on the Thames River throughout the Lower watershed remain high but are declining slowly.  However, the recent rain has boosted water levels in the Upper watershed and water levels in the City of London are rising again.  Water levels may rise again to around the same levels observed over the weekend.  As the water works its way through the Lower Thames watershed, residents should expect to see water levels levels come back up.  Again, any flooding should be limited to those low lying, agriculturally dominated, river flats.  In the City of Chatham, the downtown sidewalk along the river should be expected to either remain flooded or to flood over again.  Water level can be expected to remain high all week.

People should take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches, and streams.  The combination of slippery banks 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.

Officials will continue to monitor the situation and update this advisory if necessary.

This message will be in effect until April 1st, 2016.

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