Flood warning issued for New Hamburg, Ayr and West Montrose

The Nith River was photographed in Ayr, Ont. on Dec. 31, 2025. (Karis Mapp/CTV News)

People living near New Hamburg, Ayr and West Montrose are being encouraged to prepare for potential flooding.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) issued a flood warning for the areas on Saturday afternoon.

“River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 1 in New Hamburg during the late evening of Saturday, March 7, and may extend to Flood Warning Zone 2 in the early morning of Sunday, March 8,” a notice from the conservation authority said.

In West Montrose, flooding is possible in Flood Warning Zone 1 late Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, flooding is possible in Flood Warning Zone 1 in Ayr on Sunday, with the potential to extend into Flood Warning Zone 2 later in the day.

On Thursday, the GRCA had issued a flood watch for the entire Grand River watershed as warm weather increased the risk of snowmelt, runoff and ice jam formations.

The temperature was expected to stay above freezing until at least Wednesday. That, combined with approximately 15 to 30 mm of rain from Friday and early Saturday, prompted the concerns.