An unusually wet April, coupled with an abundance of rain Sunday and Monday, has the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) warning residents to stay away from waterways.
The watershed has received 30-50 mm of rain over the past week, according to the UTRCA. In April, roughly 100-150 mm of rain fell across the region, a significant jump from the normal monthly average of 80mm.
Water levels in rivers, streams, and ponds are running high and moving quickly as a result of the wet weather. Londoners are reminded to use extreme caution near all watercourses for the time being as banks are slippery and the water is very cold.
"Peaks from the recent rain developed early today in upstream areas and on smaller creeks, and downstream areas will peak during the day today," said Mark Helsten, UTRCA Senior Water Resources Engineer in a release issued Tuesday morning. "We expect water levels to be approximately 0.5 to 1 metre above normal for this time of year, depending on location."
More rain in the forecast for Thursday and Friday, possibly another 45-75mm, and an already saturated ground will cause water levels to continue to rise heading into the weekend.
UTRCA officials are using flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas to reduce downstream flows. So far, no major flooding is expected.
