The weather will be some 10 degrees warmer than normal in Sarnia Thursday, windy with showers and the risk of thunderstorms.
It's all part of an intense Colorado low racing across the U.S. Midwest that forecasters are calling a bomb cyclone.
There are windy and very mild temperatures on the leading side of the storm and blizzard and snowfall warnings on the back side.
Environment Canada's Sarnia forecast calls for a high of 15 C (59 F) rain, the chance of thunderstorms into the evening, and gusty southerly winds to 60 km/h.
A special weather statement was issued early Thursday afternoon, which was upgraded to a severe thunderstorm watch in the evening.
As the low moves through the temperature will fall Friday afternoon to around 3 C (37 F).
Highs both Saturday and Sunday will be just above zero.
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has issued a flood outlook/water safety statement.
The authority says warm temperatures, up to 25 millimetres (one inch) of rain with higher amounts in embedded thunderstorms, and frozen ground will result in quickly rising river levels across the watershed.
There is also a moderate risk of ice jam-related flooding in the Port Franks area.
The authority says major flooding is not anticipated but residents are reminded to use caution near watercourses and to consider all ice to be unsafe.
