ERCA warns of potential flooding in watershed

The Detroit River on Dec. 8, 2024. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has issued a flood outlook, citing potential flooding, for the watershed. Due to warmer temperatures, the snow is beginning to melt across Windsor-Essex.

ERCA said the ground is already saturated, impacting its ability to soak up excess water. With forecasts projecting less than seven millimetres of rain into Thursday, this creates a risk of flooding for areas with existing standing water.

Community members are asked to be careful and avoid areas where flooding could take place and around rivers, streams, and shorelines during rainfall and windy days.

Children, pets, and livestock should also be kept away from flowing or standing water.

Here’s a look at the weather for the next couple of days:

Wednesday: Cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of snow or rain in the early afternoon. Periods of rain will begin in the afternoon with a risk of freezing rain. Winds up to 15 km/h. High 3 C with a wind chill of -4 C.

Wednesday night: Periods of rain mixed with drizzle changing to snow mixed with drizzle before morning. Low 2 C.

Thursday: Periods of snow mixed with drizzle ending in the morning, then cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of rain or flurries late in the morning and early afternoon. Rain showers or flurries will persist in the afternoon. Wind west 30 km/h. High 4 C.

Thursday night: Cloudy periods with 40 per cent chance of rain showers or flurries. Low -6 C.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of rain showers or flurries. High 6 C.