Highlights:

• Strong Wind Warning has been issued for Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair due to strong winds predicted this afternoon and lasting throughout the day Thursday.
• Risk of shoreline damage, erosion and flooding along the Lake St. Clair shoreline, including Lighthouse Cove and nearby shoreline in Chatham-Kent, this afternoon and throughout the day Thursday
• Slight risk of shoreline damage, erosion and flooding along the Lake Erie shoreline, including Erie Shore Drive and the high bluff areas, this afternoon.

Message:

Strong Wind Warnings for Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie have been issued by Environment Canada’s Marine Forecast due to strong west and northwest winds forecasted for this afternoon and lasting throughout the day Thursday. Currently winds are out of the west and wind speeds are predicted to rise this afternoon to somewhere between 30 and 40 km/hr depending on the forecast. This evening, winds are forecasted to switch to the northwest and remain from that direction into Friday. However, a few forecasts are suggesting that winds could switch to the southwest briefly before turning to the northwest. While out of the northwest, wind speeds are expected to remain strong with forecasts suggesting speeds between 40 and 50 km/hr could be observed this evening and throughout the day Thursday. Forecasts suggest wave heights on Lake St Clair could reach up to 1 m in height.

Strong winds will be driving waves onto the Lake St. Clair shoreline in Lakeshore and Chatham-Kent this afternoon and throughout the day Thursday. There is a risk that wave action could damage shoreline protection works, cause erosion, and flooding in low lying areas. The area in the LTVCA most likely to be impacted is Lighthouse Cove and the shoreline areas nearby in Chatham-Kent. If winds rise fast enough and switch to the southwest, as only a few forecasts suggest, there could also be impacts along the Lake Erie shoreline in areas such as Erie Shore Drive and along the high bluff areas. Whether damages will occur will depend on actually how high wind speeds get and the direction they are coming from at the time. Residents should pay attention to local conditions and be prepared.

People should take extra caution and avoid the shoreline should conditions get rough. The waves can be strong and the shoreline slippery. There could also be hazardous debris within the waves and water which could be thrown onto the shore. 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 October 18, 2019.

Message Contact: Jason Wintermute (519-354-7310 x227, [email protected])