A flood watch for the Thames River has been downgraded to a flood outlook by the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA).
The watch was put in place on Thursday evening after an ice jam formed at the mouth of the river in Lighthouse Cove but was lifted when the jam moved out into Lake St. Clair.
Officials said as of late Thursday night there was no longer enough ice in the Thames to create another ice jam. However, water levels are still rising due to the rain and snowmelt.
Water levels are currently peaking in the City of London, and the amount of water leaving the upper Thames watershed, combined with the runoff in the lower Thames will cause flooding of the low-lying river flats near the river from Delaware down to Chatham.
The LTVCA said water levels on the river are expected to remain elevated into early next week.
Based on current forecasts, officials do not expect to have to operate the 6th Street Dam, and flooding in the city of Chatham is expected to be limited to the sidewalk along the river in the downtown and other low-lying areas adjacent to the river that tend to flood frequently.
Water levels on smaller watercourses that drain into the Thames River have now peaked and are dropping.
The McGregor Creek Diversion Channel in Chatham is currently diverting McGregor Creek flows around the city.
Residents are reminded to take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches, and streams because the combination of slippery banks, broken or unstable ice, and fast-moving cold water can be dangerous. Children, pets, and livestock should be kept away from the water.