The Essex Region Conservation Authority has upgraded its flood watch to a flood warning for areas along the Detroit River, Lake Erie, and Lake St. Clair from Windsor to Belle River.
The authority says strong winds out of the east/southeast have already caused flooding in Leamington from Wheatley Harbour to Point Pelee. It asks people to avoid the area.
The Municipality of Leamington is advised to monitor the flood control dykes in Southeast Leamington including the Mersea Road 1 Dyke and the Marentette Dyke. The municipality is accessing the damage to those dykes and working to avoid flooding.
The wind is also raising water levels along the remainder of the Lake Erie shoreline and into the mouth of the Detroit River. That means the western portion of Leamington, Kingsville, Essex, Amherstburg, and Pelee Island could potentially flood.
Elevated water levels combined with increased wave activity could mean nearshore erosion, breakwall damage and wave overtopping.
Because of high lake levels, the City of Windsor is advised to monitor water levels along the flood control dykes within the Little River corridor.
Rivers and streams could also be hazardous, so the authority said that children, pets, and livestock should be kept away from flowing and standing water, and shoreline and breakwall areas.
-With files from Paul Pedro.