The Essex Region Conservation Authority says to expect significant amounts of standing water over the next week.
With temperatures forecasted above freezing for the next several days, the existing snowpack will be melting and creating volumes of standing water and runoff, ERCA said in a watershed conditions statement that is in effect until March 16.
Forecasts currently advise that temperatures will rise and fall above freezing, so the rate of thawing should be slowed during the daylight hours.
Environment Canada says daytime highs are expected to sit between 3 Celsius and 9 C this week, but dip down below freezing in the evenings and overnight.
Most watercourses, ditches and streams are iced in with significant snow pack being present within these waterways. Runoff from the melting snow will be held back from these waterways due to frozen surface inlets, snow drifts and cast snow from snow removal.
There is a high probability for significant volumes of standing water to affect the entire region within low lying areas and areas where drainage inlets are still frozen.
Standing water can be encountered anywhere within the region and depths can be significant.
ERCA says property owners should consider inspecting their private properties for catch basin and surface drain locations and make these areas free of debris and stockpiled snow/ice.
Existing ice surfaces may be impacted on from runoff from warming temperatures, making these areas potentially unsafe. Parents should take precaution to keep children and pets away from areas of standing water, waterways, ditches and streams.
