A LITTLE RAIN MUST FALL
Motorists warned of poor visibility and ponding as ERCA issues flood watch
Austin Charlton and Elora Green, both of Kalamazoo, Mich., stop to take a snapshot while walking through Jackson Park Monday during light showers and temperatures near 22 C. They were celebrating their seventh anniversary.
You know what they say about April showers and May flowers: Rain sucks.
Be that as it may, Windsor-Essex will be getting more of it this week, with high chances of rain predicted for five of the next seven days. The possibility of major rainfall prompted Environment Canada to issue a special weather statement for Windsor-Essex on Monday morning, advising of showers and isolated thunderstorms throughout Monday and Tuesday. Meteorologists advised that precipitation amounts of 15 to 25 millimetres were possible on Monday, and the same was forecast for Tuesday.
As of 11:30 a.m. Monday, Environment Canada noted that total rainfall amounts of 50 millimetres or more were possible by Tuesday night.
“Motorists should be prepared for ponding of water on poorly drained sections of roads, and low visibility in heavy downpours.” Environment Canada’s weather offices are continuing to monitor the situation. Meanwhile, the Essex Region Conservation Authority issued a flood watch for the entire region early Monday. According to ERCA, the ground was already reaching its saturation point over the weekend, with 30 to 60 millimetres of rain falling upon the region from Friday to Sunday.
“Based on the current wet ground conditions, the potential for flooding exists throughout the region,” wrote ERCA water resources engineer John Henderson. “Especially in low lying areas adjacent to and within floodplain areas on all major waterways and shoreline areas.”
ERCA said the risk of high-intensity isolated thunderstorms has increased chances of drainage problems across Windsor-Essex — especially in urban areas. Members of the public are asked to take extra caution around ditches, rivers, streams, and shoreline areas. “The combination of slippery banks and fast-moving water can be extremely dangerous,” ERCA warned.
The ground was so soggy on Monday that the City of Windsor closed all its sports fields for the day, and advised that more closures could come. Thankfully, it’s not going to be non-stop wet weather this week. Environment Canada predicts a break from the rain on Wednesday and Thursday, with only a mix of sun and cloud in the forecast for those days.
But the rain is expected to return next weekend, with 40 to 60 per cent chances of showers or even thundershowers next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.