Highlights:

• Rain this afternoon followed more rain and thunderstorms overnight.
• Overnight rain could lead to localized flooding and smaller watercourses spilling their banks.

 

Weather forecasts are calling for 5 -10 mm of rain this afternoon.  That rain is predicted to continue through the evening and overnight periods with the possibility of thundershowers.  The forecasts are predicting an additional 10 – 20 mm of rain during that evening and overnight period.  The large amounts of rain could lead to localized flooding in areas of poor drainage.

Smaller local watercourses will rise but should be able to handle the rainfall predicted for this afternoon.  However, the additional rainfall predicted for the evening and overnight would cause some of those local watercourses to spill their bank and flood low lying adjacent areas.  Depending on how much rain falls, the LTVCA may need to operate the Indian-McGregor Creek Diversion Channel in order to protect the south end of the City of Chatham.

The Thames River is flowing higher than usual due to rain earlier in the week.  The additional rainfall will cause it to rise further.  Should the higher rainfall amounts appear, there could be some flooding in the most low lying areas adjacent to the river, such as the sidewalk in downtown Chatham.

People should take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches, and streams. The combination of slippery banks and fast moving water can be dangerous. Standing water can also present its own 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.

Note that the earlier Watershed Condition Statement issued for the Lake Erie Shoreline is still in effect.

Contact: Jason Wintermute ([email protected]) or Jason Homewood ([email protected]) regarding this message.

This message will be in effect until December 3, 2018.