Businesses along King Street in Chatham should prepare for flooded basements as water levels along the Thames River rise over the next couple of days.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has elevated a flood watch to a flood warning Thursday morning. According to Jason Wintermute, water management supervisor, an ice jam at the Prairie Siding Bridge by Jacob Road is causing water levels in Chatham to rise.
Wintermute said in a news release that flooding of the basements of businesses along King Street is "imminent," but couldn't predict how bad it will be.
"Last night an ice jam formed downstream of the city of Chatham," Wintermute said in the release. "It caused water levels in the city to rise rapidly through the night. The LTVCA is now operating the 6th Street Dam and Pumping Station. This should protect the south end of the city of Chatham on McGregor Creek from flooding."
Overflow from the Thames River on Fourth Street and King Street behind some of the businesses. Cars don't seem to be taking the barricades seriously. @BlackburnCK #ckont pic.twitter.com/9S7khp8J6o
— Greg Higgins (@realgreghiggins) February 7, 2019
Wintermute added water levels are still rising on the Thames River in Chatham and basements of the businesses along King Street in downtown Chatham could begin flooding at any time.
"The behaviour of ice jam-related flooding is very unpredictable," Wintermute said. "The last times there was ice jamming at Prairie Siding with somewhat similar flows in the Thames River, water levels in the city rose an additional 0.70 m from where they were at 10 a.m. This would create water levels similar to the 2008/2009 flood (not ice jam) or the 1984 flood (ice jam). However, there was a significantly greater thickness of ice during the 1984 ice jam flood."
Chatham-Kent firefighters were also heading door-to-door on King Street West in Chatham to advise businesses and residents of the expected flooding.To make matters worse, strong and gusty southwest winds have been forecasted for Thursday evening and into Friday. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement early Thursday afternoon advising that sustained winds over 45 kilometres per hour are expected until Friday afternoon.
The conservation authority said the strong winds could cause shoreline damage and flooding to areas that are exposed to the open lake.
https://twitter.com/ckfiredept/status/1093555059152031745
Wintermute said if similar water levels are reached to the floods in 2008/2009 and 1984, water could spill over onto Siskind Court, William Street at Water Street, Salter Street, and Thames Street at Pitt Street.
Wintermute said if conditions of the ice jam change, it could affect the downstream portions of the river through the Raleigh and Dover areas and into the town of Lakeshore including Lighthouse Cove.
"Residents should pay close attention to local conditions and be prepared should water levels exceed the flood protections," Wintermute said.
The supervisor added that residents in the south end of Chatham should also pay attention to local conditions. Wintermute said weather forecasts are calling for 15 to 20 millimetres of rain and excessive precipitation could lead to localized flooding upstream in the areas along McGregor and Indian Creek.
Wintermute asked residents to take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches, and streams in the area as the combination of slippery banks, broken or unstable ice and fast moving cold water could be dangerous.
"Standing water can also present its own unseen hazards," Wintermute said. "Children and pets and livestock should be kept away from the water."
He added officials continue to monitor the situation and will update the advisory if necessary. The warning will be in effect until February 10, 2019, according to Wintermute.