Minto and Mapleton under state of emergency after heavy rainfall, flooding

Grand River spills its banks From CTV Kitchener’s Nicole Lampa: Flooding in West Montrose, Conestogo, and Elmira as officials say water levels are expected to go higher.

Mapleton Township and the Town of Minto remained under states of emergency Friday evening, as flood fears increased in Waterloo Region.

The Grand River Conservation Authority warned that the Grand would be flowing through Cambridge at levels not seen since 1975.

Water Street, also known as Highway 24, was expected to be impassable between Concession Street and Myers Road once the Grand began spilling its banks in the area.

Elsewhere in Waterloo Region, residents were evacuated from the West Montrose Family Campground and the Bingemans trailer park in Kitchener.

According to the GRCA, flows in the Grand were expected to peak at 900 cubic metres per second late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Flooding also closed a portion of Arthur Street North in the north end of Elmira, as well as Boldener Park.

The GRCA warned of the potential for flooding along the Conestogo River, where flows were expected to peak Friday evening.

The Nith River was not expected to swell to levels where flooding would be a significant concern.

For most of the day Friday, areas around Drayton and Harriston appeared to be the most significantly affected by flooding.

“I believe there (are) a couple hundred homes that have got water in their basements,” Minto Mayor George Bridge told CTV News.

Evacuations had taken hundreds of people out of their homes in those communities, with many long-time residents saying they hadn’t seen such significant flooding in decades – if ever.

Displaced Minto residents were being housed temporarily at the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex. For Mapleton residents, the Peel Maryborough Drayton Arena was made available as an evacuation centre.

Flooded-out and closed roads were reported across northern parts of Wellington County, and into parts of Dufferin and Grey counties.

In Elora, river flows peaked Friday afternoon at 325 cubic metres per second.

Downstream, the GRCA forecast flooding in certain low-lying areas starting early Saturday morning.

Minor flooding was possible at the Everglades Trailer Park in North Dumfries, and the GRCA said some residents of the Brant Park trailer park might require evacuation.

In Brantford, Gilkinson Street was being readied for a possible closure.

According to the GRCA, water levels were expected to peak on Sunday downstream of Brantford.

The flooding was caused by showers, thunderstorms and localized torrential rain from Thursday night through Friday morning meeting saturated ground conditions.

Some areas saw their highest recorded rainfall amounts over a 24-hour timeline in several years.

Mount Forest led the way, with 158 mm of rain recorded between 8 a.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The bulk of the rain fell between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Friday.

Other hard-hit communities included Mildmay (137.4 mm), Palmerston (121.9 mm), Lucknow (108.7 mm), Brussels (95 mm) and Goderich (91.9 mm).

While there was less precipitation in areas further inland, total rainfall was still significant. Environment Canada reported 60.2 mm of rain in Milverton and 43.4 mm in Elora.

A flood warning was issued for Wellington North, Minto and Southgate by the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority.