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Flooding closed part of Highway 402 in eastern Lambton County and two Sarnia-area refineries reported incidents connected to heavy rains Tuesday morning.
The highway’s eastbound lanes were closed at Nauvoo Road and its westbound lanes were closed at Kerwood Road about 10 a.m., provincial police announced on social media.
“For your safety, please drive carefully and do not attempt to drive on closed roads,” officials with the Ontario Provincial Police said.
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The closing came as Environment Canada ended a rainfall warning and severe thunderstorm watch for Lambton County after heavy rains moved through the area and much of Southwestern Ontario.
The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority warned Tuesday morning of elevated water levels in a flood watch notice.
Fifty to 150 millimetres of rain have fallen in the area since July 9, leading to saturated soil, ponding and flooding in parks and floodplain areas, the authority said. “Individuals are reminded to avoid watercourses and flooded areas due to dangerous conditions, slippery banks and cold, swift moving water.”
Suncor said heavy rain led to an incident at its Sarnia refinery about 8 a.m. Tuesday.
“As a precaution, the refinery’s spill response team deployed booms into the St. Clair River,” the company said in a post to the Sarnia-Lambton Alerts public information system.
“Currently, no sheens have been observed on the river and monitoring continues.”
Odours were present in the area and the refinery was conducting air monitoring, Suncor said.
“Appropriate recovery and cleanup operations will be determined,” it said.
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The company said it was “assessing an overflow of stormwater to the South Vidal Street ditch” and water sampling and measures to manage water were underway.
Shell reported Tuesday morning that a “small, light sheen was noticed on Talfourd Creek” near its refinery and the sheen had entered the St. Clair River.
“Shell is taking measures to contain and remove the sheen from the water,” the company said in a post to Sarnia-Lambton Alerts. “At this time, no action is required from the community as a result of this occurrence. All safety precautions and standard regulatory protocols are being followed.”
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