The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has alerted the public that the spring melt is beginning and reminds residents to use extreme caution near all watercourses and to stay out of any flooded areas in the coming weeks.
The conservation authority has issued a flood watch for the region, which includes Woodstock, Thames Centre, East Zorra-Tavistock, Zorra, London, Middlesex Centre, Perth South, West Perth, Mitchell, Stratford and St. Marys.
The watch started today at 1 p.m. and will run until March 7 at 2 p.m.
The combination of warmer temperatures this week and rainfall will begin melting the snowpack, with a significant portion of the snow being depleted by the end of the week.
The organization expects rivers, streams, and ditches will rise, spilling into low lying floodplain areas, parklands, and other areas that flood frequently.
Parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from rivers, streams, ponds, and ditches as stream banks can be slippery and unstable, and the water is very cold and fast-moving.
Any ice cover will be weakened and unstable.
The UTRCA’s flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood, and Pittock Conservation Areas are within seasonal range and will be operated to reduce downstream flooding.
The conservation authority is monitoring the situation and will provide an update later this week as weather progresses.
