Shoreline damage and flooding are possible as strong wind gusts create fluctuating water levels in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair.
The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has issued another flood watch. Officials with the conservation authority said wind gusts are expected to pick up overnight and switch directions over the weekend, when gusts are expected to reach up to 60 kilometres an hour Saturday morning.
Water levels may rise approximately sixf centimetres (not including wave action) in areas around Lighthouse Cove and areas in East Kent.
"Given that water levels have exceeded record highs on both Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, these further rise in water levels increase the risks and may impact new areas previously not known to be at risk," LTVCA spokesman Jason Wintermute said in a media release.
Over the weekend, areas such as Erie Shore Drive, Rondeau Bay Estates, and areas along Lake Erie in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County may get hit with powerful waves as winds change direction.
However, strong wind gusts are not the only factor that could potentially lead to flooding. Rain is in the forecast for Thursday and Saturday.
"Shrewsbury would be a community particularly at risk from this, although other areas could be impacted too," the release said. "The rain also has the potential to impact the downstream areas of the Thames River as well, which are already elevated due to high levels on Lake St. Clair."
If water levels in the Thames River rise enough, conservation officials said it could push water out on to the sidewalks of Chatham's downtown core.
In the meantime, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority has issued a flood warning for the Sydenham River watershed, which includes areas such as Wallaceburg and Dresden.
Both the watch and warning are expected to remain in effect until Sunday.