CATFISH CREEK CONSERVATION AUTHORITY
FLOOD WATCH
For Immediate Release
Flood Watch for Residents of Catfish Creek Watershed
Issued on February 17,2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Issued by: Peter Dragunas, Water Management Technician
Catfish Creek Conservation Authority
(519) 773-9037
The Flood Outlook, Watershed Conditions Statement issued on February 16, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. has been upgraded to a Flood Watch.
This Flood Watch is to notify Catfish Creek Conservation Authority Member Municipalities, Emergency Services staff, and individual landowners that due to the forecast precipitation, existing snowpack conditions, and that Lake Erie remains frozen at the harbour possible ice jamming will cause water levels to increase. The current assessment is that an elevated probability exists for flooding of low-lying flood prone areas along waterways within the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority’s administrative perimeter.
Effective immediately, the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority is upgrading the February 16 Flood Outlook, Watershed Condition Statement to a Flood Watch for low lying flood prone areas within the watershed. Due to forecast weather conditions (increased temperature and mixed precipitation) coupled with the existing saturated snowpack and Lake Erie remaining frozen at the harbour, there is a high potential for flooding to occur in flood prone areas of the watershed.
These adverse weather conditions coupled with progressively deteriorating ice conditions on the Catfish Creek and its tributaries, indicate that potentially hazardous circumstances exist. Primary concerns are increasing water levels, intensified water flows and obstructions to riverine ice transport (ice jams). HIGH water flows result in unsafe channel bank conditions and other unpredictable dangers around waterways, adjacent fields and parkland, urban storm drains, small streams, creeks, or other hazardous areas.
The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution near bodies of water, and to keep everyone away from waterways during these adverse conditions and times of high-water flows.
Residents are asked to watch local conditions closely and take appropriate responsible action. Updates will be made available when conditions warrant. This Flood Watch Watershed Condition Statement will remain in effect until further notice and will be adjusted accordingly.