With plenty of snow still to melt and plenty of rain on the way in parts of our coverage area, officials in some areas are preparing for flooding as early as Friday night.
According to the Grand River Conservation Authority, upper portions of the Grand and Conestogo rivers had already reached flooding thresholds by Friday morning.
With higher temperatures and rain in the forecast, accumulation and melting snow are likely to lead to flooding in some areas, particularly in Grad Valley and West Montrose.
The GRCA has issued a flood warning for the upper Grand, Conestogo and Speed rivers, with a flood watch for much of the rest of the watershed.
In the Grand Valley area, County Road 25 has been closed and 9th Line is being watched closely for potential flooding.
In West Montrose, residents on Rivers Edge Drive are being warned of possible flooding of basements and yards, while trailer sites on Sixth Street and properties on Covered Bridge and Tailwood drives may also flood.
The lower campground at the West Montrose Family Camp has already flooded.
Low-lying areas at Bingeman Camping Resort in Kitchener are also expected to begin flooding Friday.
Remaining closed are Three Bridges Road along the Conestogo River in St. Jacobs and Black Bridge Road and a walking trail along the Speed River in Cambridge.
Further south, Six Nations 4th Line has been closed at Bateman Line, and officials are keeping a close eye on Grand Sports Drive south of York.
Flooding concerns are also being felt by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, which monitors an area expected to see heavy snow over the weekend.
MVCA officials say water levels in the Maitland and Nine Mile River watersheds have been rising steadily for the past week, and have already reached their highest levels in five years.
While the exact nature of any flooding will depend on how much rain falls and when the precipitation takes place, preparations are being made for road closures and evacuations.
The Town of Minto says it is making plans to evacuate the Harriston Trailer Park and other low-lying areas Saturday afternoon.
Affected residents will be directly contacted by Minto Fire.
