Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority warns of flood risks in coming days

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority has issued a potential flooding statement for parts of the Peninsula, the southeastern portion of Hamilton and the eastern portion of Haldimand County until Friday morning.

In addition, Environment Canada has released a special weather statement for Niagara Falls, Welland and the Southern Niagara Region due to an incoming series of low-pressure systems forecast to move into southern Ontario on Tuesday.

The systems are expected to bring rain and temperatures well above freezing, with rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm overnight Tuesday into Wednesday afternoon. 

The rain and melting snowpack, combined with the frozen soil conditions, could result in localized flooding and generate sudden surface water runoff into local ditches, watercourses and storm sewer systems. 

“The rain and snow melt will serve to further increase water levels in local creeks and rivers and will likely result in flooding typically experienced in low-lying, flood prone areas. Major flooding of watercourses is not anticipated at this time,” reads the statement from the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Residents are urged to stay away from creeks, rivers and all bodies of water due to slippery slopes, unstable ice and elevated water levels. The Conservation Authority is also warning eastern Haldimand residents along Lake Erie of forecasted strong wind gusts and high wave height.

The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority also encourages people to ensure drainage on their property is not hindered by blocked culverts, catch basins or ditches and says it will updated its flood status and stream flow monitoring web pages as required.

The Long Point Region Conservation Authority also issued a flood watch today for its entire watershed area. It is expected to last until Friday afternoon.

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