When It Rained, It Poured With the amount of snow that London has received this winter, it would be no surprise if the idea of spring flooding was seeping into people’s minds. Long-time Byron residents will certainly remember or have heard the stories of London’s worst flood on record and its impact on their community. The flood occurred on Monday, April 26, 1937, after days of torrential rain. Approximately 150 mm (six inches) of rain fell on ground already saturated with melting snow. The Thames River reached its highest recorded water levels in what was deemed the watershed’s most destructive flood. Sandbagging efforts had started in west London and Byron, with extra police and firefighters called in to help. Sewer covers gushed with water as the pressure built. People noticed that rats were running for higher ground as the dumps began flooding. Many residents in west London and Byron didn’t realize the seriousness of the situation, putting their faith in the sandbags to hold back the water. In a short time, however, the water broke through, and people had to evacuate their homes. As the river overtopped the dikes in downtown London, people found themselves stranded on rooftops, and the water was too high to use cars. Rescuers used rowboats and canoes to evacuate stranded residents as streets became waterways. Emergency shelters were created. Five people died, and more than 1,000 homes were damaged, with an estimated $3 million in damage across the Thames River watershed. In Byron, what was remaining of the historic Halls Mill and Dam was completely swept away by the raging waters. The flood caused heavy damage to roads and bridges throughout the watershed. In areas near Byron, such as the Lambeth and Westminster bridges, large sections of embankments were washed away entirely. Many families in London and Byron lost all their belongings. The Thames River peaked around 20 feet above its normal level, and 24 hours later, the waters crested and began receding. Frantic calls from relatives jammed telephone systems, and everyone had to boil drinking water. Over 5,000 people were left homeless, and property values plummeted. The 1937 flood was a major catalyst for the formation of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) in 1947, leading to the construction of the Fanshawe Dam and other flood control structures, as well as the development of flood forecasting and warning measures to prevent future disasters.
While the 1937 flood remains the worst on record, more recent floods include March 1977, September 1986, July 2000, April 2008, December 2008, and February 2018. Already in 2026, the UTRCA has issued three flood bulletins. With all the snow London has received this winter, residents may be wondering whether major flooding is in the forecast. According to the UTRCA’s latest snow survey, conducted on February 2, the snowpack across the watershed contains the equivalent of about 75 mm (3 inches) of water, on average. While the potential for flooding is there, it all depends on the weather. “Most of the largest floods on record in the UTRCA have been generated by a combination of rain on top of melting snow,” said Mark Helsten, UTRCA Senior Water Resources Engineer. “An ideal snowmelt happens when daily maximum temperatures stay below 10°C, overnight temperatures drop below freezing to slow the thaw process down, and there is little to no rain. This combination results in a long, slow melt period, usually with only minor flooding.” For more information on flood control measures for the upper watershed of the Thames River or how to be prepared for a flood, visit UTRCA at www.thamesriver.on.ca. Source: London’s Darkest Hours by Ken McTaggart and www.thamesriver.on.ca/water-management/flooding-on-the-thames-river/ Guy Lombardo and his orchestra performed at a flood relief benefit show in aid of victims held at Loew’s Theatre in London. Other artists who performed at the concert include Rufe Davis, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, and the Nora and Jimmy Bell dance team.
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Byron Villager March 2026
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