The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority is warning of possible flooding in the low lying areas by the Thames River from Delaware to Thamesville.
The conservation authority has released a safety bulletin, in effect until February 4.
Unseasonably warm temperatures have caused higher water levels in the Thames River watershed by melting snow and overnight rain is expected to make the issue worse.
Before the recent warm up in temperatures, the conservation authority estimated about 30-35 mm of water to be locked in the northern snowpack while about 5-15 mm was trapped in the snowpack south of the Upper Thames. Most of that snow has melted with only about 10-15 mm of water still in the northerly snowpack.
Thames River flooding from Delaware could begin overnight on Tuesday and reach Thamesville over the next couple of days. Water levels are expected to stay high for the rest of the week.
Despite the high water levels the conservation authority doesn't expect the Indian-McGregor Creek Diversion Channel will be needed, but isn't certain and will monitor conditions closely.
The conservation authority is advising people to avoid the river as well as lakes, ditches, streams and ponds during this time as slippery banks, melting ice and cold water are particularly dangerous.
