Winnipeg, MB – While temperatures are cooler this week, the ice covering the Red River is expected to remain unsafe for recreational use.
The Province of Manitoba announced yesterday that the Red River is expected to rise over the coming days due to heavy precipitation in the United States.
The anticipated rise in water levels will likely cause hanging ice along the edges of the river. It could also result in fractures in the ice and water moving onto the ice as pressure causes shifts in the surface to occur. Areas of open water may also occur.
“Falling into ice-cold water can be deadly, so we need residents to be cautious around waterways,” said Tom Wallace, Deputy Chief with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. “Ice surfaces on rivers, streams, retention ponds, and even ditches can be deceiving, especially when covered in snow. Banks around waterways can be slippery and unstable.”
Parents, caregivers, and teachers are encouraged to speak to children and students about the dangers of thin ice. Dog owners should keep dogs on leashes around the ice to prevent them from chasing wildlife onto thin ice surfaces.
If you see someone who has gone into the water or through the ice, call 9-1-1 immediately and try to keep track of where they are. Do not go in after them. Wait for first responders.