Flood warnings issued for Grand Valley and St. Jacobs

The Grand River is seen here in Cambridge. April 14, 2018.

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has issued flood warnings for Grand Valley and St. Jacobs as rising river levels continue across the watershed.

The conservation authority said warm temperatures and rain over the past three days have rapidly melted the snowpack, leading to ice jams and localized flooding.

Temperatures on Sunday reached an average of about 8 degrees Celsius in the northern part of the watershed. Temperatures are forecast to climb into the mid-teens on Monday and Tuesday, which will continue melting remaining snow and increase runoff into local waterways, according to officials.

“River flows have exceeded flood thresholds in Grand Valley on Sunday evening and may continue to affect this area through Monday morning,” a media release issued Sunday night read in part. “The risk from rapid increases in water levels due to ice jams remains high.”

In St. Jacobs. river levels have already flooded some low-lying areas and conditions could persist through Monday.

The latest warnings come after similar messages were previously issued for the Ayr, New Hamburg and West Montrose area as well as Brantford, Paris, Drayton and Haldimand County.