Serious flooding this winter isn't a major concern in Chatham-Kent despite persistently mild temperatures.
"The Thames [River] has a tremendous capacity to deal with rainfall or snow melt," says Don Pearson, general manager at the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority.
Pearson says water levels are receeding after rising just over a metre this week thanks to a warm spell of weather bringing rain and melting snow. The conservation authority issued a safety bulletin earlier this week warning of the flooding possibility.
He doesn't expect dangerous flooding in the region going forward unless there's a heavy rainfall.
"Having lost most of the snow that's fallen so far, the forecast at this point in time for at least a flood resulting from rapid snow melt seems pretty remote," says Pearson.
Despite the lack of a serious flood threat, Pearson urges people to be cautious near area water ways.
"The river will continue to be relatively high and flowing fairly quickly for the next few days," says Pearson. "It's extremely cold and the banks are slippery."
As far as the conservation authority is concerned, the current weather conditions are more than welcome.
"I don't want to, shall we say, discourage the winter enthusiast," says Pearson, "But for our business losing the snow and the ice and then staying cold like it's supposed to this time of year is probably the best that we can hope for."
