December 06, 2005
Manitoba Water Stewardship reports the ice cover on rivers and lakes in southern Manitoba is still thin and recommends people stay off until the ice has thickened to at least half a foot (0.15 metres).
Ice may take several weeks or more to thicken depending on weather conditions.
This includes large lakes such as Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba.
River ice can vary in thickness due to factors such as snow cover, water turbulence beneath the ice and outflows from water treatment plants.
Ice may be unsafe in some sections although surrounding ice may appear safe.
Extreme caution is advised even after the ice has thickened to half a foot or more in most areas.
The danger of frazil ice on fast-flowing rivers appears to have passed.
The Saskatchewan River level at The Pas has declined by a metre during the past week as suspected downstream frazil ice has given way.
The ice buildup on the Fairford River near Lake Manitoba is also reduced.
Normal ice cover has developed on other streams in southern Manitoba.
Frazil ice may form on the Dauphin River.
With the freeze-up underway on Lake Winnipeg, there is no longer a danger of high lake levels due to strong winds.
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