High winds from the south and southwest prompted the Essex Region Conservation Authority to issue an advisory Monday night concerning the Lake Erie shoreline.
Residents are being warned to use extra caution and avoid shoreline areas during high winds and waves where there could be slippery banks and waves crashing over breakwalls, and to keep children, pets and livestock away from the shoreline and breakwalls.
The forecast is predicting winds of 40 to 45 km/h with gusts of 70 km/h from the south/southwest Monday night and Tuesday. The wind direction could switch to coming from the west/southwest Tuesday, the conservation authority said.
Although the lake levels are below flood watch criteria, the conservation authority said the situation could cause shoreline erosion and breakwall damage.
The shorelines on Lake Erie affected by the winds include the western shoreline of Point Pelee National Park, the shorelines of Leamington, Kingsville, Essex and Amherstburg and the south and west shorelines of Pelee Island.
The advisory is in effect until Wednesday at 9 a.m.
Tuesday’s forecast calls for rain and a high of 8 C with the temperature dropping in the afternoon to 2 C. The low is expected to be -4. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are expected to bring a mix of sun and clouds but the temperatures will be colder with a high of -1 and -4CFriday. There’s a chance of flurries by the weekend.
