Rain in Forecast for Beginning of Week (flood bulletin, April 3-7, 2023)
WATERSHED CONDITIONS STATEMENT – FLOOD OUTLOOK
Issued April 3, 2023 at 11:30 am; Valid until April 7, 2023
The system that brought 35 – 70 mm of rain to the region at the end of last week elevated watercourses over the weekend. While water levels in the upper Thames River watershed are not yet back to normal, they are receding.
Forecasts are calling for 30 – 50 mm of rain over the next three days, with the bulk to be received overnight tonight and on Wednesday. There is a chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday, which would add to the potential rainfall totals.
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) expects water levels will rise throughout the week and may reach similar levels to those over the past weekend, should the higher forecasts materialize. Water levels are expected to remain elevated over the long weekend.
The UTRCA’s flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas were used to temporarily store runoff to reduce downstream flooding over the weekend and are now receding. The reservoirs will continue to be operated to reduce downstream flooding over the coming week.
UTRCA officials are monitoring the situation and will report any changing conditions.
People should take extra caution and avoid all rivers, streams, ditches and ponds. Slippery banks and cold, fast-moving water pose a serious hazard. Standing water can also present unseen dangers. Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from the water. As water levels rise, it is not safe to take shelter along riverbanks or in low lying areas that are prone to flooding.