Strong winds and rain in the forecast have once again prompted conservation officials to issue a flood warning along Lake Erie.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has updated Saturday morning's flood watch to a flood warning. According to the LTVCA, wind gusts of up to 60 km/hr are expected Sunday with the potential of up to 15 mm of rain. With the sustained wind, waves are predicted to reach 2 m in height and water levels near the Rondeau Bay area may rise an additional 10 cm.
The strong winds also pose of risk of damaging shoreline protection works and causing shoreline erosion.
The high water levels on Lake Erie combined with the strong winds will increase the chance of flooding. The flood watch is also extended to the Lake St. Clair shorelines and the Detroit River shorelines.
Flooding has already impacted over a dozen homes along Lake Erie last week and the LTVCA said residents in the Rondeau Bay area are already seeing even more flooding this weekend."There is currently flooding occurring in the communities backing onto Rondeau Bay. The flooding in Erieau already appears slightly worse than that experienced last week," the LTVCA said in a statement. "Properties on the bay side are most affected, with water on the properties and around homes. There is currently water on Bayview Ave and some on Ross Lane as well. There are also some properties in Shrewsbury that are affected. Elsewhere around Rondeau Bay, water levels in the ditches and roadside drains are very high and impacting low lying areas."
The LTVCA adds that the forecast is calling for strong winds to last throughout the day Sunday and into the evening. As a result, residents should expect flooding to continue into the overnight period.
Conservation officials are urging residents along the shoreline to pay close attention to conditions and prepare accordingly. They also remind people to take extra caution along shorelines and keep children and pets away from the water.
