There’s a downside to the beautiful weekend weather forecast of temperatures over the melting point. Timmins Police communications coordinator Marc Depatie has a warning for snowmobilers, ice fishers and hikers.
“Ice conditions on frozen waterways in our area will obviously be negatively affected by the warmer weather,” he says.
That applies to ponds, rivers and lakes.
“The thickness of the ice may appear on its surface able to withstand your weight or that of your vehicle,” Depatie continues. “Quite often that’s not the case, hence the need for heightened attention in regards to those circumstances where you are crossing a frozen waterway.”
If you get wet in a mishap, it can take only minutes for hypothermia to set in. “The health risks posed by hypothermic conditions can be almost lethal in certain circumstances.”