Despite cold temperatures Thursday and Friday, the Thames River is still rising but isn’t expected to cause any significant flooding.
After warm temperatures and significant rainfall melted snow in the watershed, caused ponding, standing water and localized flooding, the sudden return of cold temperatures froze much of the water that didn’t already run off, a safety bulletin from the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority stated Friday.
Water levels are dropping on smaller local water courses after rising earlier this week.
The Thames River has also risen.
Water levels on the river were peaking later on Friday in upstream areas and that peak was expected to work its way downstream over the weekend, the conservation authority said.
“Peak flows are generally expected to be lower than the thresholds where flood messages would be issued for flooding of the river flats,” the conservation authority said. “Only the lowest lying of the river flats adjacent to the river would be expected to flood. However, the effects of river ice could create localized effects.”
Water levels on the river should be expected to remain up through the weekend into early next week.
The river ice is largely intact along the lower Thames River. The river was open around Delaware, but the ice remained intact around Thames Road and Currie Road.
“Downstream from there, the river ice is also largely intact,” the conservation authority said. “However, there are a few areas of the river downstream which have opened up, especially around Thamesville. It is not safe to be out on the ice.”
People should take extra caution and avoid the river, ditches and streams, the authority warned. The combination of slippery banks, broken or unstable ice and fast-moving cold water can be dangerous. Children and animals should be kept away from the water.