AFTER THE FLOODS: One month’s rain in a few hours closed roads, parks in Mississauga

Most roads and parks that were closed in Mississauga due to widespread flooding on Tuesday have since reopened, say city officials who noted the torrential downpour that slammed into the GTA was more intense than a one-in-100-year storm event.

“Mississauga received a month’s worth of rain over the course of a few hours that caused localized flooding in areas across the city,” City of Mississauga officials said in a news release.

They added Canada’s seventh-largest city saw upwards of 106 mm of rainfall between 8 a.m. and noon on Tuesday.

“According to our conservation authorities, this weather event was slightly more intense than a one-in-100-year storm event.”

At Pearson Airport in Mississauga’s northeast end, an Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station recorded 122.9 mm of rain at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport between Monday and Tuesday. It was the most rain received in any one area across southern Ontario.

Rescuers tend to a motorist caught in Tuesday’s flooding. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services X)

In one three-and-a-half-hour period on Tuesday, 97.41 mm of rain was measured at Pearson, included in that a 10-minute span in which 26 mm of rain fell.

The widespread flooding closed sections of highways across the GTA in addition to numerous roads and parks within Mississauga’s borders.

A city spokesperson told INsauga.com early Thursday afternoon that most roads and parks that had been closed have since reopened for public use. Many of the areas were reopened on Wednesday.

Additionally, the majority of city sports fields that had closed to the public have now reopened, with several exceptions (see below), the spokesperson added.

City crews were busy on Wednesday cleaning up after the historic rain storm and ensuing flooding. In addition to clearing debris from sidewalks, roads and trails, they were also inspecting areas to ensure safety and assess any damage.

Flood damage to one of Mississauga’s trails. (Photo: City of Mississauga)

Officials noted crews were continuing to assess conditions at marinas and on gravel park trails and sports fields before giving the all-clear to reopen. They were keeping an eye on any washouts, needed repairs and long-term damage that may have taken place.

“Most of the damage we’re seeing is impacting infrastructure like asphalt, pedestrian bridges, playgrounds, sports-field turf and fences,” officials said in an online update of conditions.

Sports fields in Mississauga that remain closed as of Thursday afternoon include:

• Westacres Minor Ball Diamond #2 (near school)
• Port Credit SS Minor Ball Diamond #1 South
• Fred Halliday Minor Ball Diamond (closed until further notice due to washouts)
• South Common Major Soccer
• Streetsville Memorial Major Soccer
• King’s Park Minor Ball Diamond #2
• Hunter’s Green Minor Hardball
• Eden Woods Minor Ball Diamond

Parks, trail and road closures include:

• Culham Trail, Sugar Maple Woods Trail and Streetsville Memorial Trail along the Credit River. Barricades and signage are being put in place for safety and residents are being asked to avoid these areas
• Courtneypark Drive East is closed from Netherhart Road to Britannia Road East for the next few days

Residents in need of support or who want to report flood damage or a safety hazard on city property can call the city’s information line at 311.

Numerous sections of highways and main roads in Mississauga and Brampton were rapidly overtaken by rising waters on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of drivers stranded in their vehicles before either being rescued by first responders or making their way to safety by themselves and leaving their cars behind.

Parks and trails across Mississauga were also flooded as rivers, streams and creeks overflowed their banks.

Numerous rivers, creeks and streams across Mississauga were either at their capacity or overflowing their banks on Tuesday. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services X)