Officials in Toronto are bracing for the possibility of significant flooding as up to 70 millimetres of rain is expected to deluge the city during the next three days.
Global News Chief Meteorologist Anthony Farnell said Lake Ontario water levels are approaching a record set in 1973 and high winds could lead to large waves on the water surface.
“You very rarely see the possibility of 70 or 80 millimetres of rain and that it is an entire May’s worth of rain that in this case is going to come in about 36 hours,” he said.
READ MORE: Toronto Islands parks, Hanlan’s Point ferry affected by high water levels
“The other problem of course is that April was so wet — 100 to 150 millimetres of rainfall — so the ground is saturated, there’s nowhere for the water that falls to go except for in rivers and lakes and eventually into Lake Ontario so this is a problem … for the entire month of May it looks like we’re going to be near record water levels.”
Farnell said the combination of high water levels and soil erosion could also lead to property flooding of homes on the Toronto Island.
“This is a different set up than a flash flooding situation that you would get with severe thunderstorms that sit over an area,” he said.
“Rain and river levels are going to go up but it’s going to be in a slower manner so what we’re going to see is these water levels on all rivers, all streams, going up through the afternoon today into tonight and through Friday and likely into the weekend as well.”
WATCH: Lake Ontario water levels approaching record high
Farnell added he doesn’t expect the Don River or Credit River to overflow but Lake Ontario will continue to see rising water levels into next week.
Environment Canada, which has issued a rainfall warning for the Greater Toronto Area, said there will be potential for local flooding as the ground is already saturated due to the significant rain accumulation in recent weeks.
WATCH: GTA rainfall expected to cause some flooding. Ashley Carter reports.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority said the rain will result in higher than normal water levels in streams and rivers.
Officials are warning the public that the rising or fast-moving water can create dangerous conditions. There is also the possibility of flooding on roadways, especially in low-lying areas.
A statement was issued by the City of Toronto Thursday evening saying city staff are preparing to possibly shut down the Don Valley Parkway Friday afternoon.
City staff said parks and city services on the Toronto Islands were experiencing flooding-related issues and services are being affected by high water levels.
Reduced Service on Toronto Islands
Passenger ferry service to Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point was cancelled as of Thursday evening.
However, Ward’s Island Park ferry service continues to operate on its spring schedule. Also, a ferry will be stationed at Ward’s Island each night to provide shelter and transportation if needed.
The scheduled opening of Centreville Amusement Park this weekend has also been delayed.
Residents living on the Islands are being told that evacuation procedures are in place if the water reaches dangerous levels.
In the city, officials said ponding may occur around homes where the ground is already saturated and that crews are working to clear catchbasins in advance of the storm to minimize road flooding.
Flooding is most likely to occur in areas that have historically experienced frequent flooding such as the Don River Valley, the eastern and western beaches, the Toronto Islands and other lakefront/shoreline areas, the city said.
Risk of basement flooding
Localized flooding may mean a troubling couple of days for some homeowners living near or at high risk areas.
If flooding occurs, city officials are telling residents to call 311 as Toronto Water crews are available 24/7 to respond to concerns.
Preventative measures can also be taken to keep basements dry such as clearing catchbasins and eavestroughs and by moving valuable objects away from the floor.
It’s also a good idea to reduce water usage to prevent the sewer system from being overwhelmed.
With files from Nick Westoll and Adam Miller
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