A potent low pressure system blasting through eastern Canada sent blistering winds tearing through southern Ontario on Sunday afternoon, and set both lakes Erie and Ontario sloshing.

Estimates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Foresty put water levels some 7 feet above average for Lake Erie on Sunday afternoon, as winds whipped up massive waves on all five Great Lakes.

Amid the winds, ice shoves are being reported on the western end of Lake Erie in Niagara and near Buffalo, along with flooding in the Port Colborne area.

@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey.... pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx

Niagara Parks Police Service on Twitter: "@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey.... pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx / Twitter" advising that Niagara Parks Police Service on Twitter: "@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey.... pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx / Twitter" Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy Niagara Parks Police Service on Twitter: "@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey.... pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx / Twitter" Insp. Garvey.... Niagara Parks Police Service on Twitter: "@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey.... pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx / Twitter"

— Niagara Parks Police Service (@NiagParksPolice) Niagara Parks Police Service on Twitter: "@NiagParksPolice advising that @NiagaraParks Roads Department closing Niagara River Parkway near Mathers Arch. Strong winds blowing ice over the retaining wall from the lake. Drive with caution. Video courtesy @NiagRegPolice Insp. Garvey.... pic.twitter.com/RdXh5HYxfx / Twitter"

WOW. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services shared this photo. Voluntary evacuation of Hoover Beach. @news4buffalo @HamburgESU pic.twitter.com/sSOq7lkTbl

WOW. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services shared this photo. Voluntary evacuation of Hoover Beach. Gabrielle Mediak on Twitter: "WOW. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services shared this photo. Voluntary evacuation of Hoover Beach. @news4buffalo @HamburgESU pic.twitter.com/sSOq7lkTbl / Twitter" Gabrielle Mediak on Twitter: "WOW. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services shared this photo. Voluntary evacuation of Hoover Beach. @news4buffalo @HamburgESU pic.twitter.com/sSOq7lkTbl / Twitter" Gabrielle Mediak on Twitter: "WOW. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services shared this photo. Voluntary evacuation of Hoover Beach. @news4buffalo @HamburgESU pic.twitter.com/sSOq7lkTbl / Twitter"

— Gabrielle Mediak (@GabrielleMediak) Gabrielle Mediak on Twitter: "WOW. Town of Hamburg Emergency Services shared this photo. Voluntary evacuation of Hoover Beach. @news4buffalo @HamburgESU pic.twitter.com/sSOq7lkTbl / Twitter"

WATCH: CAMERAMAN REACTS AS MASSIVE ICE SHOVE SURGES AT HIM

Localized flooding as the storm surge hits Port Colborne. #OnStorm pic.twitter.com/jkBJpFz8HJ

Localized flooding as the storm surge hits Port Colborne. Andrew Collins on Twitter: "Localized flooding as the storm surge hits Port Colborne. #OnStorm pic.twitter.com/jkBJpFz8HJ / Twitter" Andrew Collins on Twitter: "Localized flooding as the storm surge hits Port Colborne. #OnStorm pic.twitter.com/jkBJpFz8HJ / Twitter"

— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) Andrew Collins on Twitter: "Localized flooding as the storm surge hits Port Colborne. #OnStorm pic.twitter.com/jkBJpFz8HJ / Twitter"

Another view from behind Sandy's Surfside in @PortColborne. Usually you can walk right up to the docks and there's several feet to the water, now the water is over the docks #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/Tl0drPW2YV

Another view from behind Sandy's Surfside in Chris Ventura, 6ft away on Twitter: "Another view from behind Sandy's Surfside in @PortColborne. Usually you can walk right up to the docks and there's several feet to the water, now the water is over the docks #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/Tl0drPW2YV / Twitter". Usually you can walk right up to the docks and there's several feet to the water, now the water is over the docks Chris Ventura, 6ft away on Twitter: "Another view from behind Sandy's Surfside in @PortColborne. Usually you can walk right up to the docks and there's several feet to the water, now the water is over the docks #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/Tl0drPW2YV / Twitter" Chris Ventura, 6ft away on Twitter: "Another view from behind Sandy's Surfside in @PortColborne. Usually you can walk right up to the docks and there's several feet to the water, now the water is over the docks #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/Tl0drPW2YV / Twitter"

— Chris Ventura, 6ft away (@chris__ventura) Chris Ventura, 6ft away on Twitter: "Another view from behind Sandy's Surfside in @PortColborne. Usually you can walk right up to the docks and there's several feet to the water, now the water is over the docks #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/Tl0drPW2YV / Twitter"

So what are the mechanics behind an ice shove? The Weather Network's meteorologist Matt Grinter explains, below.

FROM THE MET DESK: WHAT CAUSES AN 'ICE SHOVE'?