With temperatures rising and rain in the forecast, the Grand River Conservation Authority has issued a flood warning for the entire Grand River watershed.
The agency says temperatures on Thursday could reach up to 11 C by midnight before they return to more seasonable temperatures on Friday.
READ MORE: Dramatic video captures ice jams along Grand River in Cambridge
The warmer air should melt a good portion of the remaining snow. Paired with a light rain of 5-10 mm between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, the melting snow will see river levels rise again.
The Grand River watershed includes the river itself plus tributaries such the Conestogo, Nith, Speed and Eramosa rivers.
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Cities along the rivers include Brantford, Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener and Waterloo, as well as smaller communities such as Elora, Fergus, New Hamburg, Wilmot, Paris and North Dumfries.
The GRCA is warning people to be cautious around all bodies of water.
“Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time,” it says, “and, when combined with current weather conditions, pose a serious hazard.”
READ MORE: Flood warnings issued for Brantford, Cambridge, New Hamburg, Ayr and others on Grand, Nith rivers
Residents of these areas are also encouraged to keep off all frozen water bodies and to keep their children and pets away from watercourses.
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