Drenched Londoners are beginning to come home to flooded basements.
Over a 24 hour period that began Thursday afternoon, the Upper Thames River watershed received 25-35 mm of rain with another 25-35 mm forecast to fall by Saturday. The abundance of rain, coupled with an already saturated ground is leading to flooding.
The Thames River spilled over its banks on Friday, leading to flooding in Harris Park.
Water has also begun to fill basements in London, with Jeff Blake of BELFOR Property Restoration noting an increase in the number of calls Friday.
"We are getting a fair amount of calls. Not a huge spike yet but that could change as the rain continues," said Blake.
He stressed that homeowners need to be vigilant about checking their basements for flood water.
"Check it before going to work, when you get home, and before you go to bed," said Blake. "People also need to make sure that downspouts are clear, they've got the eavestrough kick-outs at the corner of their houses trying to push that water as far away from the house as possible. Check sub pumps to make sure they are running, maybe put battery back ups on them too.
Homes in older neighbourhoods have an increased risk of flooding, as they may not have the storm systems built into them that newer developments have been equipped with.
Once flooding is discovered, it's imperative that the water is removed immediately to minimize the damage.
"Basically, you're looking at physical damage to the carpet and drywall. Secondary damage to electronics or other sensitive building materials," said Blake. "If you leave things too long you could end up with mould. So there are serious risks if you don't get it cleaned and dried out properly."
Mould can start to develop as quickly as 48 to 72 hours after flooding.
A flood watch advisory issued by the The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) remains in place. UTRCA officials anticipate the Thames will peak late Saturday.
Londoners are being urged to use extreme caution near all waterways as banks are slippery and the water is very cold and fast moving.
Rain is expected to taper off Saturday night.