Recent heavy rain has prompted the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) to issue a watershed statement.
The SCRCA issued a safety bulletin on Saturday night.
According to the conservation authority, the region has received up to 15 mm of rain over the last 24 hours, and as a result, large amounts of snow have been melting. This is causing runoff into watercourses which is causing water levels to slowly rise. The rise in water levels has the potential to spill onto natural floodplain areas, parks and farm fields.
Soils are also expected to be wet from the rain which could lead to ponding, increased runoff into watercourses and possible concerns of erosion.
Westerly winds of 20-30 km/h, peaking at 40 km/h are expected to hit by Monday morning. These winds may cause a backwater effect and could increase water levels.
In addition, officials warn that river banks may be slippery and residents are cautioned to avoid flooded areas which can be slippery.
The message is in effect until Monday.