Highlights:
• Strong winds out of the east and southeast on Saturday with a potential for strong winds out of the south on Sunday
• Potential for shoreline erosion, shoreline damage, flooding, and freezing spray

Environment Canada’s Marine Forecast has issued a Strong Wind Warning for Western Lake Erie. Weather forecasts are calling for winds exceeding 35 km/hour out of the east and southeast for most of Saturday. The peak sustained winds are currently expected to reach 42 km/hour around noon Saturday with gusts up to 63 km/hour. On Sunday, there is a chance that sustained wind speeds will fluctuate between 30 and 35 km/hour with gusts reaching up to 55 km/hour out of the south. The Marine Forecast is predicting that waves on Lake Erie may reach 1.5 m in height Saturday at noon.

While winds are out of the east and southeast on Saturday, there is the potential for shoreline impacts to the eastern side of Rondeau, including the Rose Beach Line area, as well as the Detroit Line area in Wheatley. There is a risk of erosion, damage to shoreline protection, and backup flooding from the various drain outlets in these stretches. Should the winds transition to the southeast and south, winds will be driving waves onto the whole length of our Lake Erie shoreline in Chatham-Kent and Elgin Counties. There is a risk that wave action could damage shoreline protection works, aggravate shoreline erosion, create flooding due to wave crashing against shoreline protection works along Erie Shore Drive, or create backup flooding from the various drain outlets in the Lake Erie shoreline stretch as well. Temperatures are predicted to be below freezing Saturday morning which creates the risk that wave spray or floodwaters could freeze creating hazardous conditions. Given the uncertainty around these forecasts, residents along the Lake Erie shoreline should pay close attention to both weather forecasts and current conditions and prepare accordingly.

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 shoreline. Standing water can also present unseen hazards. Children and pets should be kept away from the water. Officials will continue to monitor the situation and update this advisory if necessary.

Contact: Jason Homewood (jason.homewood@ltvca.ca) or Jason Wintermute (jason.wintermute@ltvca.ca) regarding this message.

This message will be in effect until December 03, 2018.