Streams and rivers in the London-area will likely rise as a weather system bringing mild temperatures and heavy rain moves through the area on Thursday.
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) issued a flood alert for Thursday and into Friday in response to the forecasted rainfall, unseasonably warm weather and melting snowpack.
A low pressure is expected to bring 20-25 millimetres of rain across parts of southern Ontario by the afternoon. Temperatures may peak to double digits sometime Thursday before returning to below freezing early Friday morning. The UTRCA is reminding residents to keep children and pets away from all watercourses and frozen water bodies as they are unstable.
"As water levels rise, it is not safe to take shelter along riverbanks or in low lying areas that are prone to flooding," a release from the UTRCA read. "Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with cold, fast-moving water, pose a serious hazard."
While conservationists do not believe serious flooding will be an issue, they say water levels will respond to the runoff from the rain and melting snow, causing levels to remain above normal over the weekend.
"The UTRCA’s flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas are at seasonal levels and will be operated to reduce downstream flooding if required," the release continued.
More information about current flood alerts, low water status and flows can be found on the UTRCA's website.
