Photo: cogdogblog · CC BY 2.0Flood mapping exists for South Windsor: 1 on record, latest by Essex Region Conservation Authority / County of Essex
Little of the land around South Windsor has burned: 0.2% within 25 km since 1986, or 0.007% a year. Earthquake risk in South Windsor is ordinary: NRCan’s model puts building losses at $0.019 a year per $1,000 of value, close to the typical town’s $0.030. In Health Canada’s survey, 14% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). South Windsor grades C+ for hazard risk, with wildfire counted against it.
What stands out about South Windsor’s hazards
For South Windsor, from NRCan’s seismic model, Health Canada’s radon survey, the national burned-area record and the flood map inventory.
What South Windsor faces
Each hazard against its own yardstick; meters run from low to high on that yardstick.
Wildfire
Earthquakes
Radon
Flood study
South Windsor grades C+ for hazard risk
For South Windsor, Risk will be the average of earthquakes and radon, with wildfire added only if it makes the average worse.
Its place: #682 of 866 in Ontario and #1,870 of 2,589 Canadian towns.
How sure: The seismic figure is a long-run average from NRCan’s model, not a prediction. The burned-area record misses fires under about 10 ha and most grass and farm fires.
Few fires near South Windsor: 1.2% within 5 km, 0.2% within 25 km
Past fire around South Windsor’s homes, from the national burned-area record, with the fuel within 5 km.
Around South Windsor fire takes 0.007% of the land in a typical year, the typical Canadian town 0.000%, which is low.
Little near South Windsor’s homes can carry a forest fire; only 0% of the land within 5 km is forest fuel, and 0.3% within 25 km.
Shares of land within 5 and 25 km of populated blocks: burned at least once in 1986–2025 (CWFIS burned-area composite), forest fuel and grass (fire behaviour fuel types, 2026, 250 m grid).
Burn rate a year, towns in Ontario · highest of 871
In the top quarter in Ontario: South Windsor ranks 32nd of 871 at 0.007% a year, with Sioux Lookout first at 0.16%.
Each bar: the yearly average share of land within 25 km of a town’s homes that burned, 1986–2025 (CWFIS); the seven highest towns of 2,500 people or more.
Some fire is mapped around South Windsor, but not enough to leave the low band, where 92% of Canada’s 2,610 towns are; 7.5% rank higher.
Bands of the yearly burn rate: low under 0.05%, moderate under 0.25%, high under 1%, very high 1% or more; towns of 2,500 people or more.
Fire danger and active fires (CWFIS)
Canadian Wildland Fire Information System: National Burned Area Composite 1986–2025 and fire behaviour fuel types (2026), Natural Resources Canada. Measured within 25 km and 5 km of each populated dissemination area; past fire, not a forecast.
Essex Region Conservation Authority / County of Essex has mapped flooding for South Windsor (1 study)
What Canada’s Flood Map Inventory lists for South Windsor: who studied flooding and where to see their maps.
Essex Region Conservation Authority / County of Essex studied flooding in an area that includes South Windsor (2024); open its map to see which streets lie in a flood zone.
| Study | By | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Region | Essex Region Conservation Authority / County of Essex | 2024 | final |
Towns with a flood study on file
South Windsor is one of the 69% of towns in Ontario with a flood study on file; across Canada it is 58%.
NRCan Canada Flood Map Inventory: a study footprint touching the town’s boundary; towns of 2,500 people or more.
Listed, not scored: a flood study proves a map exists, not that South Windsor floods.
The inventory’s own caution (NRCan): “The Canada Flood Map (CFM) does not include every flood hazard map in Canada and may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. It should not be relied upon as the official source of flood mapping information. Furthermore, if a map appears to be missing, this does not necessarily mean that the area has never been mapped. For the official version of a map, updated information, or confirmation of applicable regulations, please contact the local authority responsible for flood mapping.”
Natural Resources Canada, Canada Flood Map Inventory; links go to each study’s owner.
Earthquakes cost buildings in South Windsor $0.019 per $1,000 a year
Expected yearly building losses from earthquakes, from Natural Resources Canada’s model.
South Windsor’s $0.019 is close to the typical town’s $0.030 (0.6 times as much).
Figures for earthquake risk are published for the city of Windsor as a whole, not for South Windsor alone.
Shaking damage a year per $1,000 of building value
Earthquake risk in Ontario peaks in Alexandria ($0.21); South Windsor, at $0.019, is below the median of $0.043.
NRCan seismic risk model (2022): mean yearly building loss per $1,000 of value; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
66% of Canada’s 2,611 towns expect more shaking damage than South Windsor.
Each column: the share of Canada’s towns of 2,500 people or more in that range of yearly loss per $1,000 (NRCan, 2022).
For South Windsor the model prices shaking damage to buildings, nothing more.
Natural Resources Canada, Canada’s Seismic Risk Model (2022), by census subdivision (2016 boundaries; a few 2021 subdivisions take their residents’ mean).
14% of homes tested around South Windsor are over the radon guideline
Long-term radon tests in homes across the survey area, against Health Canada’s guideline. · Measured across the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit: radon tests
A higher share than most: 14% of tested homes around South Windsor, the typical Canadian town 6.6%.
Tested homes over 200 Bq/m³
Over 600 Bq/m³
Radon runs higher around South Windsor than in most towns in Ontario: 14% over the guideline (4% is typical), 1% over 600.
Health Canada radon survey (2009–2011), by 2007 health region; medians of towns of 2,500 people or more.
South Windsor is in the 10–20% band, with 22% of Canada’s 2,611 towns; only 4.6% are higher.
Each bar: the share of Canada’s towns of 2,500 people or more whose survey area had that share of tests over 200 Bq/m³.
Neighbouring homes in South Windsor can differ a lot; only a long-term test tells you about yours.
Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2009–2011).
Where to get warnings in South Windsor
Alerts for South Windsor come from Environment and Climate Change Canada and, for emergencies, Alert Ready.
| Alert | What it means |
|---|---|
| Warning | Severe weather is happening or about to: act now. |
| Watch | Conditions favour severe weather: be ready. |
| Advisory | Weather that is less severe but could disrupt the day. |
| Special weather statement | Unusual weather worth knowing about. |
| Special air quality statement | Poor air, often wildfire smoke. |
Fire danger and active fires near South Windsor are mapped daily by the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System; evacuation orders come from the municipality or province.
Weather alerts (ECCC) · Alert Ready · Fire danger and active fires (CWFIS)
Hazards in the places around South Windsor
Wildfire band, earthquake risk, radon and flood studies for each place nearby.
| Town | Wildfire | Quake $/1,000 | Radon | Flood study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Windsor | Low | $0.019 | 14% | Yes |
| Roseland 20,587 · 2.9 km | Low | $0.019 | 14% | Yes |
| South Cameron 11,804 · 2.9 km | Low | $0.019 | 14% | None listed |
| Remington Park 5,783 · 3.0 km | Low | $0.019 | 14% | None listed |
| Devonshire 9,852 · 3.1 km | Low | $0.019 | 14% | Yes |
| South Walkerville 6,129 · 3.9 km | Low | $0.019 | 14% | None listed |
| South Central 10,392 · 4.3 km | Low | $0.019 | 14% | None listed |
South Cameron burns a little more than South Windsor, in the same low band (low here).
Radon is the survey area’s figure, so neighbours in one area share it.
Get ready for what South Windsor faces
Practical steps for South Windsor’s hazards, most pressing first.
- Test for three months in winter.
- Over 200 Bq/m³: fix it.
- Kits are cheap; pros test too.
- Never drive through floodwater.
- Move papers and medicines upstairs.
- Ask whether your street is mapped.
- Clear needles and wood nearby.
- Keep a grab-and-go bag ready.
- In smoke, stay in; filter air.
- Has it had a radon test?
- Check the address on the flood map.
- Are flood and wildfire insured?
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Earthquakes are modelled. The earthquake figure is an expected loss, not a forecast, worked out by NRCan for each census subdivision, South Windsor’s included.
- Radon is a survey. The radon share comes from about 14,000 long-term home tests in 2009–2011, pooled for now by the 2007 health region South Windsor sits in.
- Wildfire counts one way. Burned land within 25 km of where people live, averaged over 1986–2025 and checked for fuel near homes, is the measure; it looks back, not ahead, and only ever counts against South Windsor.
- Flood studies aren’t flood zones. A study’s area can be a whole watershed or province, so being on the inventory says a map exists, not that a home in South Windsor floods.
Questions about flooding and hazards in South Windsor
How big is the earthquake risk in South Windsor?
NRCan’s model expects shaking to cost buildings in South Windsor $0.019 a year for every $1,000 of their value, on average over many years.
Does South Windsor flood?
South Windsor’s area has been studied for flooding, and the owner’s map shows which streets lie in a zone; the grade leaves flood out.
Is South Windsor at risk of wildfire?
Not much by Canadian standards: South Windsor’s band is low, with 0.2% of the land within 25 km burned since 1986 (last in 2010), so wildfire doesn’t change its grade.
Is radon a problem in South Windsor?
14% of the 195 homes Health Canada tested around South Windsor topped the guideline; your own house needs its own test.
How is South Windsor’s Hazard risk Grade worked out?
South Windsor’s Hazard risk grade is C+, built on earthquakes and radon with a one-sided wildfire input.
Seismic risk: Natural Resources Canada. Radon: Health Canada. Wildfire: Canadian Wildland Fire Information System. Flood studies: Natural Resources Canada, Canada Flood Map Inventory. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Sources: NRCan, Canada’s Seismic Risk Model 2022 · Health Canada, Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes · CWFIS, National Burned Area Composite and FBP fuel types · NRCan, Canada Flood Map Inventory. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).