The flood watch has been lifted along the Thames River but that doesn't mean it's clear sailing for Chatham-Kent just yet.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LVTCA) officially cancelled the flood watch Friday afternoon for residents along the Thames River.
Jason Wintermute, the water management supervisor for the LVTCA, said although the ice jam at Lighthouse Cove remains intact, water levels have dropped significantly. He added the river flow has been able to pass safely underneath the ice and the next two weeks don't pose any threat of increasing water levels.
"The weather forecast for the next week or so are calling or daytime highs of just below zero and no rain in the forecast," Wintermute said. "Since we aren't expecting any warm-up either that may melt anything so we are just looking at the ice jam to stay right where it is. We are expecting flows to go right underneath the ice jam and move right on out. We aren't expecting anything to come of it."
After the next two weeks though, it becomes a lot tougher to predict according to the conservation official. Wintermute said it is almost impossible to know how severe flooding will be or if there will be any at all heading into spring and afterwards. He added the fact the ice broke up and headed downstream earlier in the year could help when it comes to spring flooding because there is less ice melt upstream and won't add to the flow.
Wintermute said there have been ice jam-related flooding in past springs but even if the jam dislodges it doesn't mean the area won't experience an event like last year.
"It's still highly dependant on the weather," Wintermute said. "Last year's flood was just based on really heavy flows coming from the upper watershed and an ice jam didn't contribute to that. We can still accumulate quite a bit of snow in the watershed and then if we were to get heavy rain and warm temperatures one day and it melts the snow then you can get a significant flood that way. Just because you get rid of the ice doesn't mean there isn't still a risk for that kind of flooding later in the season."
For now, the supervisor said it doesn't look like the ice jam will be breaking up any time soon. He added the people should still avoid the river as the banks are very slippery from mud and leftover ice. Wintermute said the remaining ice on the river is not stable and people need to keep children and pets away from the water and ice.
