Province Issues Thin Ice Advisory for Rivers and Lakes Across Manitoba

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is advising the public of potentially hazardous ice conditions on rivers, lakes and drainage ditches provincewide as seasonal freeze-up begins.

While the ice may appear normal, it can be very thin and may not support people or heavy objects like snowmobiles and vehicles. Thickness is inconsistent and unpredictable due to recent temperature fluctuations.

Activities such as walking, skating, skiing, sledding and snowmobiling on rivers, lakes, floodways, retention ponds or drainage ditches could be hazardous and should be avoided. The quality of river ice within communities is also uncertain. Residents living near waterways should take extra precautions to keep children and pets off the ice.