Spring thaw prompts water safety warning

With the spring thaw underway, the province is saying ice safety is no longer guaranteed.

Manitobans are being warned to stay off the ice in southern parts of the province.

Manitoba’s hydrologic forecast centre said southern basins, including the United States’ portion of the Red River Basin, are starting to thaw out as we head into April.

“River flows and water levels are expected to gradually increase, leading to potentially hazardous ice conditions on rivers, lakes and drainage ditches across Manitoba,” the province wrote in a news release Monday.

The province said ice on waterways may look sturdy but advises it could be too thin to support people or vehicles.

The province warns activities like skiing, sledding and snowmobiling on rivers, lakes and drainage ditches could be hazardous and should be avoided.

“People living near waterways should be especially careful to prevent children and pets from wandering onto the ice,” the release states.

The release also notes that Manitoba’s Emergency Organization is working with local governments and First Nations to prepare for and respond to spring flooding.

According to the government’s website, there are no current flood warnings in Manitoba; however, high water advisories and/or flood watches are in effect for the following areas:

• Rock Lake near Glenora in the RM of Argyle
• Deadhorse Creek near Rosenfeld in the RM of Rhineland
• Shannon Creek near Morris

The province’s latest flood outlook, issued on March 20, predicted a low to moderate risk for most of Manitoba.