Torrential downpour floods streets across London on Monday morning
CBC News | Posted: July 15, 2024 3:19 PM | Last Updated: July 15
Adelaide Street underpass, Oxford Street West among areas closed due to flooding
The much-celebrated Adelaide Street underpass looked more like a drainage pond Monday morning, one of many London, Ont., roads and streets that flooded during a sudden heavy downpour that hit the region.
The deluge led to a handful of morning road closures, including a few that continued into the early afternoon.
As of 1 p.m. ET, the following streets were closed:
- Oxford Street West, between Proudfoot Lane and Beaverbrook Avenue.
- Adelaide Street North, between Central Avenue and Pall Mall Street, at the CPKC railway underpass.
The skies grew dark and heavy rains began at around 9 a.m. ET, falling for about two hours.
Some parts of the city got 75 mm of rain, said Ashley Rammeloo, the city's director of water, wastewater and stormwater. "What we're seeing is localized flooding, and the local storm system needs time to drain away."
Some city intersections, including Pall Mall and Waterloo streets in the Woodfield neighbourhood, were under up to 30 centimetres of water as street drains were unable to handle the volume.
Flooding triggered several calls to emergency services across the city and a reminder for Londoners to report flooding through the city's website, not to 911.
The London Fire Department responded to several alarms to ensure there were no smoke, fire or other weather/water-related hazards, a spokesperson said.
The City of London closed several portions of roads that were underwater, including the new Adelaide Street underpass.
Commuters welcomed the $87-million underpass when it opened last spring after two years of construction to help drivers avoid the train crossing in the location.
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is urging residents to stay away from waterways and flooded areas as water levels are expected to remain elevated for the coming days.
The UTRCA said they are controlling reservoirs at the Fanshawe, Wildwood and Pittock Conservation Areas to help reduce downstream water levels. The conservation authority is also warning drivers to not travel through flooded roadways.