Date: 9:30 A.M., Friday, March 25, 2016

Issued to: Municipal Flood Coordinators of Municipalities, Media

Issued by: Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

Yesterday afternoon/evening the Lower Thames watershed received a very large amount of rainfall over a very short time period.  Between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm the Chatham precipitation gauges measured over 15mm of rainfall bringing the total rainfall since noon to over 30 mm.  Other regions of the watershed appear to have received less rainfall with Ridgetown recording 24 mm and areas further east receiving less.  However, some areas of the Upper Thames watershed have received up to 55 mm over the last two days.

Such large amounts of rainfall over a very short period of time caused the water to run off the land very quickly causing the region’s smaller local watercourses to respond and rise quickly.  Water levels on most of the region’s smaller local watercourses are now in decline. The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority did not need to operate the Indian-McGregor Creek Diversion Channel.

Due to the higher rainfall amounts in the Upper Thames watershed, water levels on the Thames River are expected to rise over the next few days.  Levels will rise enough to cause flooding in the low lying, dominantly agricultural, river flats adjacent to the Thames River and those areas traditionally impacted by high levels on the river. Water levels around Delaware should peak sometime overnight tonight, around Dutton late tomorrow and in Chatham-Kent on Sunday.  In Chatham, the sidewalk adjacent to the river downtown can be expected to be flooded over.  Water Levels will not rise enough to require operation of the 6th St. Dam in downtown Chatham. Water levels can be expected to remain elevated all Easter weekend.

People should take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches, and streams.  The combination of slippery banks and fast moving cold water can be dangerous.  Standing water can also present its own unseen hazards.  Children, pets and livestock 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 March 29th, 2016.

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