Ice build-up in the St. Clair River has grounded the Sombra and Walpole Island ferries.
“Due to ice the ferry is not running,” Walpole Alconac Ferry Ltd. stated on their website.
The Bluewater Ferry, which runs between Sombra and Marine City, is faced with the same situation.
“We are still closed due to ice conditions,” the business posted on Facebook Wednesday, followed by similar posts on Thursday and Friday.
Girish Sankar, director of water resources for the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, told the Sydenham Current they are not experiencing any flooding problems along the St. Clair Parkway.
“We don’t see any flooding issues at this point,” Sankar said.
A bulletin would be posted on their website and released to the media if that changed, Sankar added.
Meanwhile, on the Michigan side of the St. Clair River a flood warning is in place.
“At 10:02 a.m., emergency management officials reported little change to the flooding along the St Clair River to the south of St. Clair in East China Township,” National Weather Service officials stated.
“At 9:12 a.m., the water level at the St. Clair gauge was 579.10 feet. Roads, homes, and structures near the St Clair River remain under the threat of flooding due to ice blockages. Strong, northerly flow on the Lake Huron basin will keep conditions favorable for ice blockages on the St. Clair River into Sunday.”
NWS officials say a flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring and people should take necessary precautions immediately.
“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” NWS officials stated.
“Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
The NWS says the warning is in place until 1:45 p.m. on Sunday for southeastern St. Clair County in Michigan.
