A rare risk of autumnal flooding may pass through the Grand River watershed without doing any significant damage.
Although the Grand River Conservation Authority is continuing flood warnings and watches for part of the watershed, early signs point to bursting banks and flooded low-lying areas – but no damage to homes near the water.
In New Hamburg, the Nith River crested early Tuesday morning.
Residents living near the river reported water-logged backyards in some cases, but the water appeared not to have invaded any houses.
Water levels in that community are expected to remain high, if not at their peak, through the day.
The Nith’s crest is expected to move downstream to Ayr by late Tuesday evening, with the GRCA forecasting 2.6 metres of water at the Piper Street bridge.
Some low-lying parts of Ayr were reporting flooding by early afternoon.
Along the Conestogo River, the low-level bridge near St. Jacobs remains closed, with a Level 1 flood warning in effect.
The Grand River itself remains under a flood watch, although water levels began receding Tuesday morning in the northern part of the river.
According to the GRCA, the Grand should peak in Caledonia around 8 p.m., in Cayuga early Wednesday morning and in Dunnville around noon Wednesday.
No major flooding is anticipated in those areas.
