‘Potential flooding’ in Hamilton amid heavy rain advisory

The heavy rains and gusting winds that are forecast for Hamilton tomorrow could also lead to flooding, the city warns.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has put out a warning that the city could get its second significant rain storm since the new year, with “at times heavy” rain amounting to 15 to 25 millimetres expected. Southwesterly winds, gusting to 70 to 90 km/h, are also expected.

The rain clouds are expected to move northesastward starting tomorrow morning. Rain will taper to showers by tomorrow night. The advisory from ECCC also notes that hydro outages are a possibility.

Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) also issued a flood watch.

“Water levels and flows in bodies of water may increase significantly,” HCA stated. “Exercise caution near all water bodies and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams during this time.”

Wind warning issued for the northeast shore of Lake Erie.
See the details here:https://t.co/HvOIvSQmCm#ONstorm pic.twitter.com/XH1zXDsj0l

— ECCC Weather Ontario (@ECCCWeatherON) February 8, 2023

Special weather statement in effect for #HamOnt at 4:39pm EST https://t.co/FbZSCYGepp

— HamOnt Alerts (@HamOntAlerts) February 8, 2023

Hamilton Conservation Authority has issued a flood watch in #HamOnt. Water levels and flows in bodies of water may increase significantly. Exercise caution near all water bodies and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams during this time.

— City of Hamilton (@cityofhamilton) February 8, 2023

City service issues may be reported at 905-546-2489 (CITY). Hamilton is one of the few major cities in Canada that does not have 311 service.

The rainfall amount could take a run at a storm that was recorded in early January. On Jan. 4, Hamilton received 16.6 mm of rain, and wind gusted to 60 km/h. That downpour led to the city actually getting more rain than snow (40.4 mm to 35.5) for the first month of the year. It was the third time in the last four Januarys that rainfall exceeded snowfall, with 2022 being the exception.