Ponding on Sarnia roadway after thunderstorm. July 16, 2025. (Blackburn media photo by Melanie Irwin)Ponding on Sarnia roadway after thunderstorm. July 16, 2025. (Blackburn media photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Torrential rain floods area roads, parks and fields

Several area roads were flooded in heavy rainfall Wednesday afternoon.

Over 70 millimetres of rain fell in about an hour as thunderstorms moved across the region.

There was a rainfall warning posted at the time, advising of up to 100 mm of rain in some areas during heavy downpours.

Sarnia News Today received multiple reports of ponding on city streets including sections of Finch Drive, Wellington Street, and Murphy Road.

Sarnia's General Manager of Engineering and Operations David Jackson said the majority of the calls came in from the city's southeast area.

"We received, probably, over 50 calls last night and today," said Jackson. "Most of those are just kind of people calling concerned that the road is flooded. They weren't all actual damage issues. We haven't really seen a lot of sanitary sewer backup, which is good. Again, there were a lot of road flooding issues or sump pumps couldn't keep up, or water was coming in through their foundation."

The flooding is impacting classes at Lambton College.

All classes at the Main Campus have been cancelled for Thursday, July 17.

The Fire School and EarlyON Child & Family Centre remain open, and the SAC Summer Camps are going ahead as scheduled.

Ponding on Prestwick Cres. after thunderstorm. July 16, 2025. (Blackburn media photo by Melanie Irwin)Ponding on Prestwick Cres. after thunderstorm. July 16, 2025. (Blackburn media photo by Melanie Irwin)

In a flood outlook issued Wednesday evening, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority said thunderstorm activity brought varying amounts of rainfall to the watershed, with approximately 80 millimetres in Sarnia and 55 millimetres in Warwick.

The average rainfall for the entire month of July in Sarnia-Lambton is around 79 millimetres.

Individuals are reminded to avoid watercourses and flooded areas due to dangerous conditions, slippery banks and swift moving water.

The conservation authority said it will continue to monitor watershed conditions and will issue advisories should flood issues arise. 

Environment Canada is forecasting a 30 per cent chance of showers and the risk of a thunderstorm on Thursday.

Flooding, July 16, 2025. Submitted photo. Flooding, July 16, 2025. Submitted photo.

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