Highlights:

• Strong Wind Warning has been issued for Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair
• Along Erie Shore Drive, there is a risk of flooding and shoreline damage on Sunday and current forecasts suggest a very strong risk of significant flooding and shoreline damage Monday morning
• Risk of flooding and shoreline damage on Lake St. Clair around Lighthouse Cove and Chatham-Kent late Monday morning.

Message:

A Strong Wind Warning has been issued by Environment Canada due to strong winds in the forecast for both Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair on Sunday and Monday. Southwest winds are predicted to begin rising later this evening possibly reaching speeds above 25 km/hr before midnight. Wind speeds are predicted to stay strong and rise again in the morning, reaching 30 km/hr around mid-day Sunday. Winds are predicted to continue to remain strong, possibly rising above 35 km/hr Sunday afternoon. Winds are predicted to remain strong, rising again Monday morning, possibly reaching wind speeds of 45 km/hr with gusts of up to 70 km/hr. The winds are then predicted to switch to the west or northwest and begin dropping. The various forecast are somewhat inconsistent with regards to their timing, but all forecasts are predicting strong winds during this period with wind speeds sufficient to cause flood and shoreline issues. Forecasts suggest wave heights on Lake Erie could reach up to 1.5 m in height by Sunday morning.

Strong winds will be driving waves onto the Lake Erie shoreline in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County until winds switch directions sometime on Monday. There is a risk that wave action could damage shoreline protection works and cause erosion, including along the high bluff areas. Low lying areas and communities are also at risk of flooding. If wind speeds haven’t dropped by the time winds change direction, there could also be impacts along the Lake St. Clair shoreline around Lighthouse Cove and in Chatham-Kent.

The area likely to be impacted to the greatest extent is the Erie Shore Drive area in Chatham-Kent. The winds that caused severe flooding and shoreline damage and triggered a State of Emergency for Erie Shore Drive on August 27th, had peaked at speeds of around 35 km/hr. Forecasts suggest those speeds could be reached by Sunday afternoon and are very likely to be exceeded Monday morning. Residents and emergency responders should be prepared. For information regarding the provision of municipal services, road closures and potential evacuations, please contact the municipality of Chatham-Kent at 519-360-1998.

People should take extra caution and avoid the shoreline. The waves on the lakes can be strong and the shoreline slippery. There could also be hazardous debris within the waves and water which could be thrown onto the shoreline. Standing water can also present unseen hazards. Children and animals should be kept away from the water.

Officials will continue to monitor the situation and update this advisory if necessary.

This message will be in effect until September 24, 2019.

Message Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected], 519-354-7310)