A strong weather system moving across southwestern Ontario brought a significant amount of rainfall which has prompted conservation agencies to issue flood watches.
A flood watch was issued for the St. Clair region Saturday morning, just before 9 a.m. A flood watch was later issued at 10:45 a.m. for areas of Chatham-Kent.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) said there was approximately 50 mm of rainfall overnight. Whereas areas around Florence and Dresden reported approximately 100 mm and 130 mm of rainfall.
More rain is expected in the coming days but it won't be as much, with up to 15 mm of rainfall expected per day. However, thunderstorms may increase precipitation amounts for some areas.
Southwest winds are also expected to gust up to 60 km/ hr throughout the weekend. Conservation officials said this could affect water flow out of the Sydenham River which may cause water levels to rise in Wallaceburg.
The SCRCA said minor flooding will likely occur into natural floodplains and low-lying areas. The flood watch for the St. Clair region will remain in effect until Monday.
Meanwhile, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has issued a flood watch for watercourses within Chatham-Kent.
The LTVCA said some watercourses have already started to spill over into adjacent low-lying floodplain areas.
Water levels are currently being monitored. The McGregor Creek Diversion Channel may need to be operated Saturday afternoon in order to protect Chatham. However, water levels along the Thames River are not expected to rise enough to cause flooding.
Residents are advised to avoid shorelines and flooded areas for safety reasons.
