Thawing weather means conditions will be dangerous along the Grand River watershed this weekend, but no significant flooding is expected.
The Grand River Conservation Authority says residents should stay away from banks along rivers, streams, lakes and ponds over the next few days as melting snow boosts water levels.
“There is a possibility of local flooding, particularly in urban areas where you have streams that are going to have ice chunks and tree debris from the ice storm being swept downstream," says GRCA spokesperson David Schultz.
On ice-covered bodies of water, residents are being advised to keep off the ice as rising temperatures may weaken ice surfaces.
Environment Canada is forecasting rain to move into southern Ontario late Friday, beginning in Windsor and moving eastward.
By Saturday afternoon, between 15 and 25 mm of rain are forecast.
The GRCA says there may not be significant melting from that rain, as much of it will be soaked up by snow on the ground, but ice breakup and ice jams are nonetheless possible.
Streets could flood in areas where catch basins are covered with snow and ice.
