Flooding from ‘historic’ back-to-back Ontario storms triggers local emergencies
Written by The Canadian Press on August 4, 2026
Two Ontario municipalities have declared states of emergency due to major flooding in the Niagara Region.
St. Catharines and the nearby town of Lincoln both issued the declarations Monday after back-to-back storms dumped a combined 250 millimetres of rain on parts of the region in a single week.
Officials in St. Catharines say the “historic storms” have overwhelmed the city’s roads and sewers, flooded homes and businesses, and eroded parts of its shoreline.
In a news release, city officials say the risk of further impacts if another storm hits remains elevated.
Similar issues were reported in Lincoln where officials say flooding was exacerbated by widespread power outages.
Officials say that even as weather conditions return to normal, the state of emergency ensures they have every available tool to support the recovery.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2026.
The Canadian Press