Heavy rainfall that pounded the region Wednesday and into Thursday flooded some streets and bases in Chatham-Kent communities.
However, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority noted the amount of rain varied widely depending on the location.
“The central communities of Chatham-Kent seemed to receive less rain than other areas,” Jason Wintermute, the LTVCA’s manager of watershed and information services, told The Daily News.
“The gauges I have access to showed only around 10 mm or so in the city of Chatham. Moving outwards from there, the rainfall amounts grow.”
Wintermute said Ridgetown and Blenheim reported about 25 mm, calling that “easily manageable” at this time of year.
However, other areas were not as fortunate.
“We recorded 85 mm around Merlin and somebody reported 85 mm just east of Highgate,” he said. “In the Tilbury and Romney areas there was 100 mm reported, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if there was 125 mm in some areas, especially as that 100 probably doesn’t take into account this morning’s thunderstorms that passed through there. ”
Moving west into West Elgin and Dutton, there were reports of 100 to 125 mm.
“Since the central communities didn’t receive that much rain, I’m not worried about any diversion channel operations at this time. We’ll just have to watch for any storms tonight,” Wintermute said. “The Thames River in CK is up. . . about 80 cm. This is due to the heavy rains just upstream.”
He said although the Thames River likely won’t reach flood levels, many farm fields are flooded along with drainage ditches.
“Those areas that already saw three to four inches won’t be able to handle much more in terms of additional rain tonight,” he said.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority stated the watershed received between 50 to 100 mm of rain, with the possibility of more to come.
Localized flooding also occurred in low-lying areas, including agricultural and parkland areas.
“There is another system incoming Thursday evening into early Friday morning that will be closely monitored,” a release stated Thursday morning.
People are urged to use extra caution and avoid waterways, ditches and streams. The combination of slippery banks, deep and fast-moving water can be dangerous. Standing water can also present its own unseen hazards.
Children, pets and livestock should be kept away from the water.