Systems kept up as Windsor faced severe rainfall, city's chief engineer says

The City of Windsorsays there's some pondingon roadways butits infrastructure which has been beefed up in recent years held up quite wellduring Tuesday's heavy rains.

"For the most part, the majority of our storm water and drainage systems were keeping up with the magnitude and intensity of that rainfall," said David Simpson, the city's chief engineer and commissioner of infrastructure services.

He said that despite the heavy rainfall, the city has not yet had to discharge any untreated sewage into the waterway.

"it's been a good test today of our capacity to manage,"Simpsonsaid.

Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for Tuesday, sayingWindsor and Essex Countycould be in for more than 50 millimetresof heavy rainfall or as much as75millimetresin certain localized areas.

The forecaster says the rain will end Tuesdayevening, with the skies clearing and the temperatures dropping to 17 C overnight.

The City of Windsor closed its baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and cricket pitches Tuesday.

Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) also issued a flood watch.

James Bryant, the director of watershed management services for ERCA, saidthe rain "could cause some problems in some of the low-lying areas."

He warnedagainst going near rivers and creeksin case of flooding.

Environment Canada warned that downpours had the potential to cause flash floods, water pooling on roads and wind gusts could toss loose objects or break tree branches.