GRCA issues flood watch because of rain, high water levels

The Grand River Conservation Authority has issued a flood watch for the Grand River watershed, after recentrainfall contributed to higher water levels in the area.

The GRCA said the watershed has seen between 25 and 50 millimetres of rain since Saturday, causing higher than normal river flows for this time of year.

The ground is saturated, which means it has a limited ability to absorb anymore rain, a concern since there's between 50 and 77 mm rain forecast to fall over the next few days, beginning Thursday morning.

All that water has the potential to cause flooding, depending on how much rain falls and how quickly.

Areas most at risk include:

• Grand Valley.
• Drayton.
• New Hamburg.
• Cayuga.
• Ayr.
• Low-lying trailer parks along the Grand River.

Another GRCA update is expected by Friday at noon.

Major reservoirs arewithin normal water levels for this time of year, according to the GRCA.