GRCA Flood Message #4 – Combined Flood Warning and Flood Watch

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is issuing a Flood Warning message for Grand Valley and St. Jacobs.

Flood Warning messages for New Hamburg, Ayr, West Montrose, Drayton, Paris, Brantford and Haldimand County and a Flood Watch message for the remainder of the Grand River watershed remain in effect.

Weather forecast

Warm weather and rain over the past 3 days have melted the snowpack and have led to ice jams and flooding. The air temperature on Sunday, March 8, 2026, reached an average of 8 ºC in the northern part of the watershed and is expected to remain above freezing overnight. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-teens tomorrow and Tuesday, which will continue melting the remaining snowpack. River levels are elevated and additional runoff from snowmelt will cause river flows to increase.

Additional Flood Warnings Being Issued

The GRCA is issuing Flood Warning messages for Grand Valley and St. Jacobs.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Grand Valley

River flows have exceeded flood thresholds in Grand Valley on Sunday evening and may continue to affect this area through Monday morning. The risk from rapid increases in water levels due to ice jams remains high. Municipal flood coordinators in Grand Valley have been advised to monitor conditions and take necessary actions.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for St. Jacobs

River flows have resulted in flooding of low-lying areas in St. Jacobs and may continue to affect this area through Monday. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of Woolwich have been advised to monitor conditions.

Previously Issued Flood Warnings and Flood Watch Remain in Effect

Flood Warning messages for New Hamburg, Ayr, West Montrose, Drayton, Paris, Brantford and Haldimand County and the Flood Watch message for the remainder of the Grand River watershed remain in effect.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for New Hamburg

River flows have reached Flood Warning Zone 2 in New Hamburg and are starting to decline but currently remain in Flood Warning Zone 2. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of Wilmot 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.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Ayr

River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 2 in Ayr in the late evening hours of Sunday, March 8 and into the early morning of Monday, March 9. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of North Dumfries 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.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for West Montrose

River flows have reached Flood Warning Zone 1 in West Montrose and are expected to remain elevated on Monday, March 9. Municipal flood coordinators in the Township of Woolwich 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.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Drayton

River flows remain in Flood Warning Zone 1 in Drayton and will remain elevated through to Monday, March 9. Municipal flood coordinators in Mapleton Township have been advised to monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the guide on the GRCA’s website for information regarding flood warning zones.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Brant County

River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 2 on the Grand River from Glen Morris to Paris (Penman's Dam) the morning of Monday, March 9, and possibly into Tuesday, March 10.

River flows have reached Flood Warning Zone 2 on the Grand River from Paris (Penman's Dam) to Onondaga and may extend into Flood Warning Zone 3 on the afternoon of Monday, March 9.

River flows are expected to reach Flood Warning Zone 2 on the Nith River in Paris in the early morning of Monday, March 9.

Municipal flood coordinators in the County of Brant have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the Flooding section of the County of Brant website for information regarding flood warning zones.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Brantford

River flows have reached Flood Warning Zone 2 on the Grand River in Brantford and may extend into Flood Warning Zone 3 on Monday, March 9. Municipal flood coordinators in the City of Brantford have been advised to monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to refer to the Flood Preparedness section of the City of Brantford’s website for information regarding flood warning zones.

Flood Warning (Action) Message for Haldimand County

River flows are expected to peak in York on the afternoon of Monday, March 9, and through the morning of Tuesday, March 10, and may result in flooding of low-lying areas. Municipal flood coordinators in Haldimand County have been advised to notify affected properties and monitor conditions.

Flood Watch Remains in effect for the remainder of the Grand River watershed

The snowpack across the watershed has been melting from recent warm temperatures, which has led to increased water levels. Additional melting of the snowpack is expected in the coming days. Higher flows in local waterways combined with runoff from this event is increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas typically prone to flooding. Some areas of the river system are still ice covered which poses a possible risk of flooding related to ice jams. Municipal flood coordinators should monitor areas where ice jams are known to occur.

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 are being used 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 Wednesday, March 11, 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:

Lisa Stocco, GRCA Director of Strategic Communications and Environmental Education
Phone 519-621-2763 x2316 | Email lstocco@grandriver.ca

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