Flood watch means people should avoid water in Mississauga and Brampton: CVC

Credit Valley Conservation has issued a flood watch for parts of Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and elsewhere in the Credit River watershed as more heavy rain is expected throughout the region on Thursday.

The conservation authority, which protects natural areas and watercourses in Peel’s three municipalities and several other communities, issued a flood outlook statement late Wednesday afternoon alerting residents to potentially unsafe/dangerous conditions due to heavy rainfall.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday morning, CVC upgraded its public alert to a flood watch, saying “additional heavy rainfall between five and 15 mm is expected and (the) risk of thunderstorms continues. Soils are saturated and water levels continue to rise. Keep children and pets away from all watercourses.”

A flood watch indicates that flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities, according to officials. It’s an upgrade from a flood outlook, which is intended to give early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts.

A flood warning, the highest local alert, means flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific areas.

(Source: City of Mississauga)

Meanwhile, City of Mississauga officials issued a public safety notice on Thursday morning, noting a pedestrian bridge at a Malton park had been overcome by rising waters and subsequently closed to the public.

In the city’s alert, officials also urged residents to keep themselves, their children and pets away from all water bodies on Thursday as more heavy rain was expected.

Late Wednesday afternoon, CVC warned of the potential for flash floods due to heavy rain in Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and elsewhere in the watershed. Officials advised people to stay away from all watercourses Wednesday night and throughout the day on Thursday.

As much as 40 millimetres of rain, or more, was in the forecast for some areas, conservation officials said earlier, adding “localized flash flooding and water pooling in low-lying roadways in flood-prone areas is possible. Stay away from all watercourses.”

CVC’s flood outlook statement, issued shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, came after Environment Canada had issued a special weather statement for areas that included Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Halton, Orangeville and Erin.

CVC said it will continue to closely monitor both the weather and water levels across the region.

(Cover photo: City of Mississauga)