With wind gusts up to 65 kilometres per hour in the forecast, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) is keeping an eye on the Lake Erie shoreline.
The LTVCA has issued a safety bulletin due to strong winds that are forecasted to start Tuesday afternoon and continue overnight. The wind is expected to reach a maximum speed of 45 kilometres per hour with gusts reaching up to 65 kilometres per hour. Waves on Lake Erie are forecasted to reach 1.5 metres in height and will pose a flood risk for areas in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County.
Throughout this period, there is a risk for shoreline erosion. In flood-prone areas such as Erie Shore Drive in Chatham-Kent, there is a risk of flooding caused by waves crashing against the shoreline protection works.
With the temperatures expected to remain around the freezing mark, freezing spray from shorelines increases the risk of slippery and hazardous conditions on roadways.
Conservation officials said residents should pay close attention to weather conditions and avoid the shoreline. Strong waves can cause slippery conditions and cause dangerous debris to wash onto shorelines.
The conservation authority is also reminding people that standing water can present unseen hazards as well.
Officials will continue to monitor the situation and update the statement accordingly.
