Lucknow residents are the latest to be told to prepare for possible flooding as heavy rain continues to add to swollen rivers and creeks.
Maitland Valley Conservation Authority issued a flood warning Wednesday morning for Lucknow and surrounding areas of the Nine Mile River watershed. It advises that as of 4 a.m. more than 60 millimetres of rain had fallen under intense thunderstorms with more in the forecast.
"River levels are currently rising at roughly 3” per hour," the conservation authority said. "If this rate continues, levels could reach 2018 flood levels... Municipal officials are encouraged to prepare for levels to reach flood stage."
Residents in low-lying areas will be the hardest hit and drivers should be mindful rural roads could be washed out.
A flood warning is also still in place for the Boyle Drain area in the municipalities of North Perth and Huron East, as well as along the Middle Maitland River between Brussels and Wingham.
Saugeen and Ausable Bayfield conservation authorities are also warning of flooding in low-lying areas. Residents are reminded to steer clear of all watercourses as waters will be fast-moving and higher than normal and banks will be slippery.
Flooding led to Highway 21 between Amberley and Blyth roads in Huron County being closed Wednesday. The full list of flooding-related road closures can be found by clicking here.
Rain, which will be heavy at times, will continue to fall throughout the day on Wednesday. A yellow-level rainfall warning was bumped up to an orange-level rainfall warning for all of midwestern Ontario, except for the Bruce Peninsula where a yellow-level freezing rain warning is in effect. Up to 10 millimetres of ice build-up is possible there, though it could be lower should the freezing rain switch over to rain. School buses were cancelled in Lions Head and Tobermory due to the icy conditions. A yellow-level rainfall warning remains in place for southern Perth County.
Environment Canada has stated that a series of low pressure systems is what is causing the significant conditions across the region. By Wednesday night, the threat of rain will drop to just 40 per cent, changing to a 40 per cent chance of flurries as the temperature drops to minus 5 C.
