It may be a damp month for residents living along the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair shorelines as a standing flood watch is now in effect for the remainder of May.
Officials with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) issued the standing flood watch on Monday afternoon as a result of high lake levels and windy conditions.
Conservation officials said current lake levels on Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair both exceed their record high monthly averages for the month of May.
Current average daily water levels on Lake Erie are around 175.06 metres, which is one centimetre higher than the record high monthly average set in May 2019. However, lake levels are predicted to drop by a couple of centimetres throughout the month. By the summer, water levels are predicted to be on par or slightly lower than what was seen last summer.
Meanwhile, the current average daily water levels on Lake St. Clair are around 175.92 metres, which is three centimetres higher than the record high monthly average water level seen in May of 2019. Water levels are predicted to rise slightly throughout the month but by summertime, levels should be similar to what was seen at the same time last year.
"The current risks of flooding and shoreline damage are essentially the same as they were last year during the peak water level of summer months," LTVCA officials said in a news release. "The extent of any flooding and shoreline damage we may experience will be determined by the wind speed, wind direction and the waves they create."
Conservation officials said for vulnerable areas, such as Erie Shore Drive, wind speeds as low as 25 kilometres per hour could cause flooding concerns due to wave spray. Strong wind gusts of 60 km/h and heavy rainfall may also cause significant flooding in low-lying areas along the shorelines.
Residents are being told to monitor water conditions and prepare for possible flooding.
"The low wind speeds that lead to wave-related flooding in some areas is very difficult to forecast. As we move into more summertime conditions, the increase in thunderstorm activity makes forecasting wind speeds even more challenging," said officials with the LTVCA. "Wind conditions over the lakes can change quickly and with little warning."
Residents are also reminded to be cautious around standing water -- especially with children and pets -- for safety reasons.
