With above freezing temperatures and rain in the weekend forecasts, conservation officials are telling London-area residents to keep kids and pets away from rivers, streams, and ditches.
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority said the area can expect 15-25 millimetres of rain by the end of the day Saturday and, while it expects the snowpack to absorb much of that rain, there is likely to be some runoff into area waterways because the ground is frozen.
"The UTRCA does not anticipate significant flooding; however, low lying, flood-prone areas may become inundated with the higher rainfall amounts," the conservation authority said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
The UTRCA said flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe Conservation Area in London, Pittock Conservation Area in Woodstock, and Wildwood Conservation Area near St. Marys are still returning to seasonal levels after recent heavy rain the area, but there is flood storage available. It said the reservoirs will be operated to reduce downstream flooding.
