Streams and Rivers Running High as Snowmelt Continues
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) urges the public to be cautious around local waterways over the weekend, as melting snow and rain keep water levels high.
The UTRCA does not expect serious flooding at this time, but water will spill over the banks in low lying areas known to traditionally flood in the spring. Any remaining ice cover will be weakened and unstable. Flood control reservoirs are especially hazardous due to fluctuating water levels.
Parents and guardians are reminded to keep children and pets away from all watercourses. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with cold, fast-moving water, pose a serious hazard.
It is not safe to take shelter along riverbanks or in low lying areas that are prone to flooding. Do not go into standing water or attempt to drive through flooded roadways.
Over the past three days, 30-50 mm of rain fell on the Upper Thames River watershed, which already had an estimated 20-40 mm of water equivalent in the snowpack. As the runoff moves off the land, the UTRCA expects water levels in streams and rivers to continue rising today, peaking overnight in smaller streams and upstream areas, and into tomorrow in London. Water levels will remain above normal over the weekend, and into next week.
The UTRCA is operating its flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas to reduce downstream flooding.