Flood warning issued for Ayr

Water levels are rising in Ayr thanks to the recent rain and snowfall. CTV’s Karis Mapp reports.

People in Ayr are being warned to keep their eyes out for flooding.

The Grand River Conservation Authority issued an updated flood warning on Wednesday.

“A low-pressure system originating in the American Midwest has been active in the Grand River Watershed beginning late Sunday morning,” the message read. “The system brought temperatures of 5 to 6 [degrees Celsius] along with 30 to 50 mm of rainfall through Sunday into Monday morning.”

Watercourses around Ayr also received around 5 to 10 mm of precipitation in freezing rain and snow late last week. The northern and central parts of the system are also dealing with an estimated 30 to 60 mm from the melting snowpack.

“River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 1 in Ayr during the morning on Wednesday, Dec. 31st, 2025. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of North Dumfries have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions,” the GRCA warning stated.

Flood Warning Zone 1 includes properties near the intersection of Tannery Street and Stanley Street.

The GRCA is working with the local fire department to monitor the Nith River.

“When we came down [Wednesday] morning after being notified… I visually inspected the area,” explained Deputy Chief Eric Yates with the North Dumfries Fire Department. “We were about 18 inches below the edge of the banks. At that time, we had no breaching of the bank. So, we didn’t see any imminent danger to actually issue that Level 1 flood warning to our residents.”

Officials did ask neighbours to move their vehicles.

By Wednesday afternoon, however, they realized the water wouldn’t be getting any higher.

“We’ve been in communication with the GRCA this morning and throughout the day, and the water levels are receding,” Yates confirmed.