Heavy rains, thunderstorms raise risk of flooding throughout southern Ontario

April showers bring May flowers, but February rain brings flooding and ice.

It's definitely a new take on the old saying, but that's what's in store for southern Ontario over the next two days. Two storms — one sweeping down out of Alberta and the other tracking north out of Texas — are merging together for their journey across the rest of the continent. The combination of the moisture and warmth from the Texas low and the energy and strong winds from the Alberta clipper is promising a messy end of the week for the eastern half of both Canada and the United States.

[ Related: U.S. Midwest braces for floods after weeks of subfreezing weather ]

Bands of heavy rain, and even some thunderstorms, are pushing through southwestern Ontario this morning, and will press on through central and eastern Ontario throughout the day. Regions from Windsor to Cornwall are expected to see between 25 and 50 millimetres of rain by the time the storm leaves on Friday, prompting Environment Canada forecasters to issue rainfall warnings throughout the affected areas.

Although the heavy rains are expected to make this a messy, soggy couple of days for the province, a major issue coming along with it is the increased risk of flooding.

The amount of rainfall certainly isn't anything catastrophic on its own, however the frigid, snowy conditions over the last couple of months have left the region in a very bad situation when you add all that water on top. With the ground still snow-covered and frozen solid, and with piled-high snowbanks flanking roads and sidewalks, not to mention potentially covering over storm drains, that water may not have anywhere to go.

As a result, the Ministry of Natural Resources has issued a flood watch for the next couple of days, and nearly two dozen conservation authorities across the southern part of the province have issued statements advising of the potential for flooding and ice jams along rivers. Roads and sidewalks will easily flood with standing water under these conditions as well.

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The ingredients going into the mix this time around are definitely different than they were in early July last year, but the results of this kind of situation are likely still very fresh in the minds of those living in the Toronto area. A record rainfall on July 8, 2013 caused major flooding through the city. Commuters on both the roads and riding the GO Train were stranded by rising waters. That was 126 millimetres of rain falling in just 7 hours, in the height of summer and over bare (but rather soggy) ground. It (hopefully) won't get quite as bad as that over the next couple of days, but residents should watch for warnings and be prepared anyways, just in case.

(Photo courtesy: The Canadian Press)

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