July 2026 Flooding Response and Recovery
Updates:
Sunday, Aug. 2 (10:30 p.m.)
Significant Weather Event declaration
The City has declared a significant weather event, following another round of intense rainfall and storms, measuring over 100 mm of rain throughout the majority of the City, and higher volumes in some areas. Our crews are busy working through calls and service requests, addressing issues across the City. If you are experiencing flooding contact your insurance company to begin a claim and see our basement flooding page for important steps to take and information to gather.
Kiwanis open to community for showers, washrooms, pools will open late
To assist residents dealing with flood impacts in their homes the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre lobby, washrooms, change rooms and shower facilities will open tomorrow (Monday, Aug. 3) for public use at 5:30 a.m. to support those who may not have access to those amenities.
The pools at the facility will be opening late due to the ongoing flooding issue. They are tentatively scheduled to open at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Aug. 3), but a confirmation will be provided in the morning ahead of that. Any programming ahead of 9 a.m. is cancelled as of this time.
Sunday, Aug. 2 (8 p.m.)
Enhanced waste collection expanded
The City has worked with Niagara Region to expand its enhanced waste collection beginning tomorrow (Monday, Aug. 3). See their Facebook post for details and their website for more details and updates. This will include an expanded curbside collection approach, and will include areas of Merritton / Secord Woods, including:
- Unlimited regular household garbage bags and cans
- Large household items (such as furniture)
- Construction and demolition materials
Please place all materials within four feet of the roadway for collection and please note: Appliances, scrap metal, hazardous waste and liquid materials are not eligible for curbside collection. Learn about disposal options at https://niagararegion.ca/waste/.
Tipping fees continue to be waived at the Humberstone and Bridge Street landfills, and the City will begin placing large-scale bins at select City facilities (proof of residence will be required) on Tuesday. We will provide specific locations and detail as soon as these arrangements are finalized.
🌦️ Today's rainfall
With today's rainfall, City crews have responded to a series of localized flooding calls, including overflowing catch basins, ditches and private properties. While water is dissipating, the rainfall warning remains in effect, with the potential for more heavy rain this evening.
If you have an urgent service request, call 905.688.5600. Non-urgent requests can be submitted online at https://webforms.stcatharines.ca/Report-an-Issue. We are not able to take service requests / reports via social media, so please use the appropriate channels to report issues.
Avoid creeks and watercourses with elevated water levels, and use caution around roads and low-lying areas that may experience flash flooding.
🤝 Vulnerable Assistance Registry
Reminder, The City has established a Vulnerable Assistance Registry for eligible residents who require support removing water and waste from their homes. Please fill out our form or call 905.688.5600 for intake support.
We continue to advocate to the Province for additional relief supports for our community beyond the programs already announced.
The City of St. Catharines recognizes the significant impact the July 27-28, 2026, extreme rainfall event has had on residents, families and businesses across our community. We know many are now dealing with flooded basements, damaged belongings and the stress and disruption that comes with recovery. The City continues to work through its recovery and response alongside its partners, and this page will be updated as new information and supports become available.
What happened?
Overnight July 27-28, 2026, St. Catharines experienced an extraordinary rainfall event that resulted in widespread flooding across the City, with a concentration in the north end. The storm system stalled over the north end of the City, resulting in heavy rainfall in the area. Rainfall totals reached approximately 138 mm in Port Dalhousie and 126 mm in Port Weller, with the heaviest rainfall occurring within only a few hours. That volume of precipitation over just a short period was significantly higher than the average rainfall for our community for the entire month of July, causing overland flooding.
The City declared a Significant Weather Event on July 28 and partially activated its Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response. Since the event began, City crews from across the organization have been working around the clock to respond to flooding impacts, assess municipal infrastructure, address priority health and safety concerns and support residents through the recovery process.
No indication of blockages or isolated infrastructure issues: heavy rain overwhelmed system
We understand residents have questions about what caused the widespread flooding, including concerns related to infrastructure, blockages, construction and growth.
Based on inspections completed to date, flooding was predominantly the result of the extraordinary volume and intensity of rainfall.
Municipal crews have inspected affected areas and, while localized concerns continue to be investigated, there has been no indication that a single blockage or isolated infrastructure issue was responsible for the widespread flooding. The Region of Niagara has indicated the same for their infrastructure, and says their water and wastewater infrastructure is operating normally. Reports of flooding have been received from neighbourhoods across much of the city, reflecting the widespread nature of this weather event.
The City's stormwater system is designed, maintained and operated to established engineering standards. However, no drainage system can be designed to eliminate flood risk under all conditions. The volume and intensity of rainfall experienced during this event placed significant stress on drainage systems across the city and contributed to widespread overland flooding impacts.
The causes of basement flooding can differ significantly from one property to another and may include surface water intrusion, elevated groundwater levels, sewer system surcharging, or a combination of factors. The City continues to investigate reported incidents; however, the geographic extent of impacts reported across the community suggests that multiple flooding mechanisms were likely contributors to this event.
The state of City infrastructure
Much of the infrastructure in our communities was designed based on historical weather patterns and standards that did not anticipate the frequency and severity of some of the extreme weather events we are experienced this week.
Stormwater systems are designed using a combination of underground sewer infrastructure and surface drainage routes. During exceptionally intense rainfall events, these systems can become overwhelmed, resulting in surface ponding, roadway flooding and water accumulating in low-lying areas.
The City continues to take a proactive, long-term approach to managing, renewing and improving infrastructure. Through the City’s Asset Management Plan, staff maintain a roadmap that guides infrastructure replacement, rehabilitation and investment decisions. These investments are made annually and prioritized based on asset condition, risk, community needs and available resources to ensure infrastructure continues to serve residents today and into the future.
Infrastructure capacity is also a key consideration as the community grows. New development and redevelopment projects are required to meet current stormwater management standards and demonstrate how water and will be managed to minimize impacts on surrounding properties and existing infrastructure.
What’s happening now?
The City recognizes that many residents are looking for answers as they continue the recovery process. As this continues, staff remain focused on supporting residents, responding to service requests and working with Niagara Region and provincial partners to identify available supports. The City has also been reviewing opportunities for additional assistance, including waste collection support for flood-damaged materials and other recovery resources that may become available.
Residents who experienced basement flooding are encouraged to:
- Contact their insurance provider as soon as possible to begin the claims process.
- Document any damage to their property.
- Remove standing water safely where possible.
- Visit the City’s basement flooding webpage for cleanup guidance, available resources and information about the Flood Alleviation Program (FLAP), which helps eligible homeowners install a sewer backup protection valve on their sanitary lateral.
- Report the incident to Citizens First if you haven’t already by calling 905.688.5600 or citizensfirst@stcatharines.ca
We will continue to update this page and our social media with other supports as they become available.
Additional Resources
The following additional links and resources are available to assist impacted residents and businesses:
· Red Cross Niagara Region Branch Emergency and Disaster Services
· Province of Ontario flooding information and resources
· Health Canada Flood cleanup safety information
· Insurance Bureau of Canada Water Damage and Flood Protection
· City of St. Catharines Flood Alleviation Program (FLAP)
· Basement Flooding Prevention Guide (provides vital information on the sewer system, flood prevention, and more)
· Niagara Region Emergency Management
· Niagara Region Public Health
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