A significant amount of rainfall on Feb. 19 and 20 prompted officials to close roads due to flooding.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) recorded rainfall totals of 20 to 30mm across the watershed between Monday and Tuesday, with 20 to 25mm expected on Wednesday.
“These current weather conditions are melting the remaining snowpack across the watershed and resulting in very high flows in rivers and streams across the watershed,” stated the GRCA flood warning press release on Feb. 20.
“This will result in flows similar to those experienced during normal spring flooding.”
In Drayton, the Conestogo River spilled its banks at Centennial Park.
The GRCA issued a flood warning for the Level 1 flood zone area around the Drayton agricultural buildings. The conservation authority is urging extreme caution around all water bodies.
The Saugeen and Credit Valley conservation authorities also issued flood warnings.
The flooding and excess water prompted the OPP to and municipal staff to close roads throughout the county.
By press time, closures due to flooding included:
– Highway 7 between Guelph city limits and Wellington Road 29 in Guelph-Eramosa;
– Wellington Road 18, between Salem and Waterloo Regional 86, in Centre Wellington;
– Sideroad 5 between First Line West and Third Line West in Centre Wellington;
– Sideroad 3 East, east of Concession 6 in Wellington North was washed out;
– 4th Line between Wellington Road 50 and Sideroad 10 in Erin;
– 3rd Line between Sideroad 5 and Sideroad 10 in Erin;
– Station Street between Trafalgar Road and 6th Line in Erin;
– the intersection of Highway 124 and Wellington Road 52, in Erin was closed then reopened
– Sixth Line north of Wellington Road 50 in Guelph-Eramosa;
– Fourth Line between Wellington Road 124 and Sideroad 20 in Guelph-Eramosa;
– Third Line between Sideroad 20 and Wellington Road 22 in Guelph-Eramosa; and
– portions of George and William Streets in Harriston.
Main Street in Grand Valley was also closed due to rising water levels.
