WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Grand River Conservation Authority has (GRCA) issued flood warnings for Drayton, Grand Valley, Waldemar, West Montrose, the Village of Conestogo, New Hamburg, Ayr, County of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations on March 16.
A flood watch was also issued for Cambridge, and the flood watch previously issued for the remainder of the Grand River watershed remained in effect.
Weather forecast
Temperatures in the watershed increased to double digits above freezing and remained high throughout the weekend.
A Colorado low system moved across the watershed on Saturday and Sunday, bringing approximately 15 to 20 mm of rain along with sporadic thunderstorms.
The snowpack in the northern part of the watershed still contains a significant amount of water content. Warm temperatures combined with rain, which may be heavy at times, is resulting in snowmelt and increased runoff.
Drayton flood warning
River flows reached Flood Warning Zone 2 in Drayton during the late evening of March 15, then decreasing to Flood Warning Zone 1 on March 16.
Mapleton municipal flood coordinators have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions.
Residents are encouraged to refer to the guide on the GRCA’s website for information regarding flood warning zones.
Grand Valley, Waldemar flood warning
River flows have exceeded levels experienced in June 2017 and continued to rise over the weekend due to sporadic thunderstorms and continuing snowmelt.
West Montrose flood warning
River flows reached Flood Warning Zone 2 in West Montrose, with a risk of increased flows due to sporadic thunderstorms and continuing snowmelt.
Conestogo flood warning
River flows have reached flooding thresholds for flooding in Village of Conestogo.
New Hamburg, Ayr flood warnings
River flows have reached Flood Warning Zone 1 in New Hamburg and Ayr, with the possibility of extending to Flood Warning Zone 2 due to sporadic thunderstorms and continuing snowmelt on March 16.
Brant County flood warning
River flows have reached flooding thresholds for low lying areas and walking trail systems along the Grand River in County of Brant.
Brantford flood warning
River flows were expected to reach flooding thresholds for Gilkinson Street during the evening of March 16 and into March 17.
Six Nations flood warning
River flows are approaching flooding thresholds for 4th Line and Bateman Line, and were expected to remain elevated into March 17.
Cambridge flood watch
River flows were increasing in the Grand River through the City of Cambridge and approaching flooding thresholds for Water Street South and Hwy 24 the evening of March 16 and into the morning of March 17.
Flood watch
The snowpack across the watershed has been melting from recent warm temperatures, which has led to increased water levels.
Higher flows in local waterways combined with runoff from this event will increase the risk of flooding in low-lying areas typically prone to flooding.
In particular, municipal flood coordinators in Elora, Caledonia, Cayuga and Dunnville should be aware of these conditions and take appropriate precautions.
GRCA Reservoirs
The major reservoirs at Belwood, Conestogo, Guelph, Luther, Woolwich, Laurel, and Shade’s are at normal levels for this time of year and have storage available to help reduce the impact of downstream flooding.
Stay safe
High flows and unstable ice conditions will increase the safety risk around rivers and streams throughout the watershed.
The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution around local waterways.
Parents are reminded to keep their children and pets away from watercourses.
The public is reminded to stay off ice-covered waterbodies, due to unsafe conditions.
River conditions and forecasts are being monitored closely, and any additional flood messages will be issued as needed.
This message will remain in effect until 12pm on March 19.
For more information on flows, weather and reservoir conditions see the River Data section of the GRCA website at grandriver.ca/our-watershed/river-data/river-and-stream-flows/.
More information on the flood warning system is available at grandriver.ca/our-watershed/flooding/flood-warning-system/.
Follow GRCA flood messages on X at grca_flood_msg.
