Minor flooding forced the evacuation of some residents in Old South London over possible loss of electricity services

Heavy rains, record high temperatures and speedy snow-melt all conspired to push water levels on the Thames River in London to a peak and cause minor flooding of low-lying areas.

Two days of heavy rain and warm weather led to flooded waterways and, in some places, inundated basements.

?It?ll be the weekend before things are back down to normal,? said Eleanor Heagy, communications specialist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

We set records in precipitation ? ? 38.4 millimetres of rain, double the previous top tally ?? and in temperatures, with a balmy 14 C.

The previous record for Jan. 30 was 9.1 C, set in 1988. By contrast, Londoners in 1948 shivered their way through record low temps of minus-26.7 C.

Throughout Southwestern Ontario, conservation authorities warned of the potential for flooding on rivers and creeks.

In London, officials also imposed a boating ban on the Thames River.

In some places, roads had to be closed temporarily until the water drained.

The city advised some apartment dwellers in Old South London to leave their homes briefly, as a precaution against the possible loss of electrical services in the low-lying area.

Fanshawe Dam?s reservoir filled with water quickly to keep the flow under control, but the current down-river was still swift, with a flow of 230 cubic metres a second at one station in Byron in West London.

That?s the equivalent of about 500 bathtubs full of water surging past a given point every second.

Conservation officials warned people to stay away from riverbanks, which remain icy or muddy.

The warmth and rain also forced the cancellation Wednesday of horse racing at the Western Fair track.

debora.vanbrenk@sunmedia.ca

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IN OUR AREA

Lower Thames River Conservation Authority (Delaware through Chatham to Lighthouse Cove): Localized flooding from run-off. Avoid ditches, rivers, streams and ponds.

St. Clair Conservation Authority (Strathroy to Wallaceburg to Lake St. Clair): Localized flooding may briefly wash over roads in St. Clair and Enniskillen townships. Avoid water courses.

Kettle Creek Conservation Authority (north of St. Thomas to Port Stanley): Fears of ice jams causing flooding at Port Stanley have abated, but all areas near water are soggy and dangerous.

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority (Brownsville to Aylmer to Port Bruce): Unsafe channel banks and parkland hazards. Residents should remove property from low-lying areas not already flooded.

Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority (areas of west Middlesex, south Huron and north Lambton leading to Lake Huron): Flood watch cancelled. Unstable, slippery riverbanks and cold water means people and animals should avoid waterways.

Source: http://www.lfpress.com/2013/01/30/minor-flooding-forced-the-evacuation-of-some-residents-in-old-south-london-over-possible-loss-of-electricity-services

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