No warning needed as flooding threshold not met in Waterloo Region: GRCA
Posted Jul 17, 2024 10:51:56 AM.
Last Updated Jul 18, 2024 09:20:02 AM.
Heavy rainfall is still on the minds of many on Wednesday, as clean up continues from a massive downpour this week.
The middle to lower portion of the Grand River watershed got hit the worst, according to the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), with 50-70 mm of rain falling Tuesday.
Rainfall totals at the Region of Waterloo International Airport reached 65.7 mm.
Flood warnings were issued only for the Ayr and Haldimand County areas by the GRCA, with a watershed conditions statement put in place for most of Waterloo Region.
That statement warned of higher than usual water levels, with a urge to use extreme caution around all waterways.
Lisa Stocco, the manager of strategic communications and environmental education with GRCA, told CityNews 570, flooding thresholds were not reached across the tri-city area of the Grand River Watershed.
She notes, Waterloo Region saw what the GRCA would refer to as “nuisance flooding.”
“Flooding in low-lying areas, adjacent to riverbanks, areas where there might be some trailer parks for example. Haldimand County would have seen some flooding, we did not reach the flooding threshold in Ayr.”
So why was a flood warning or watch not issued for the Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo areas? Or other areas of the local townships?
Stocco said, the conditions were not met.
“We do tend to err on the side of caution. If we believe we are going to be reaching those thresholds we will issue that warning,” she said. “But we also don’t want to over warn. If we are warning too often and things don’t materialize, then obviously people will not heed those warnings.”
Stocco noted waterways are still elevated, and people still need to be cautious around all riverbanks.
“One thing to keep in mind about yesterday (Tuesday), is a lot of that was related to thunderstorm activity, and very convective weather, and that is very difficult to predict.”
A rainfall warning was issued by Environment Canada for Waterloo Region and surrounding areas, as the heavy rain began around 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
