GRCA Flood Message #2 – Combined Flood Warning and Flood Watch

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is issuing a Flood Warning message for Drayton. The Flood Watch Message for New Hamburg and Ayr and a Watershed Conditions-Water Safety message for the remainder of the Grand River watershed remain in effect.

Weather forecast

A low-pressure system originating in the American Midwest has been active in the Grand River Watershed beginning late Sunday morning, December 28th, 2025. The system is forecast to bring temperatures of 5–6°C along with 30–40 mm of rainfall through Sunday into Monday morning.

The watershed previously received 5–10 mm of precipitation as freezing rain and snow on Friday, December 26th, 2025. In addition, the northern and central portions of the watershed currently contain an estimated 30–60 mm of water equivalent in the snowpack, resulting from snowfall earlier in December.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Drayton

River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 1 in Drayton during the morning of Monday, December 29th, 2025. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of of Mapleton have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the guide on the GRCA’s website for information regarding flood warning zones.

The Flood Watch message for New Hamburg and Ayr issued on December 28th, 2025 and the Watershed Conditions – Water Safety message issued on December 9th 2025 remain in effect for the reminder of the Grand River Watershed.

GRCA Reservoirs

The major reservoirs at Belwood, Conestogo, Guelph, Luther, Woolwich, Laurel, and Shade’s are at normal levels for this time of year and have storage available to help reduce the impact of downstream flooding.

Stay safe 

High flows and unstable ice conditions will increase the safety risk around rivers and streams throughout the watershed. The public is encouraged to exercise extreme caution around local waterways. Parents are reminded to keep their children and pets away from watercourses. The public is reminded to stay off ice-covered waterbodies, due to unsafe conditions. 

River conditions and forecasts are being monitored closely, and any additional flood messages will be issued as needed.

This message will remain in effect until 12 p.m. on Friday, January 2nd, 2026. 

More information

• For more information on flows, weather and reservoir conditions see the River Data section of the GRCA website.
• More information on the flood warning system is available on the GRCA website.
• Receive GRCA flood messages by e-mail by subscribing through the GRCA website.
• Follow GRCA flood messages on X at grca_flood_msg.
• More information about how the GRCA’s role in managing floods is available in the Flooding section of the website.
• Copies of the GRCA’s River Safety Rules booklet is available by contacting the GRCA Administration Centre

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Media Contacts:

Serena Catania, GRCA Supervisor of Communications and Marketing
Phone (519) 621-2763 x2240  |  Email scatania@grandriver.ca