(BlackburnNews.com photo)(BlackburnNews.com photo)
Midwestern

Flood Watches And Warnings In Effect In Midwestern Ontario

A flood watch is in effect for the Ausable Bayfield, Saugeen Valley, and Maitland Valley Conservation Authority watersheds.

The mild temperatures and significant rainfall in the forecast will lead to elevated watercourse flows. Flooding is likely in low lying through Wednesday or Thursday.

We could see up to 70mm of rain and an accelerated snowmelt. The snowpack also holds about 60 mm of water.   Ice jams are expected to move and could cause flooding as they become lodged.

The ABCA says the rainfall event has the potential to result in the highest streamflows seen in nearly a decade.

Quickly rising rivers will break up and move river ice, adding the risk of ice jams and associated flooding, primarily in the river mouth areas of Port Franks, Bayfield, and to a lesser extent Grand Bend.

The forecasted high waters will result in the closures of some local roads.

Watercourses will begin to rise quickly Tuesday.    Flows in the largest rivers are not expected to peak until the later part of Wednesday and will remain high through the week.

There's a flood warning for the entire Grand River Watershed.    Residents in Drayton can expect flooding in the level 1 zone, starting Tuesday.

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