The Ontario Provincial Police is warning that lakes and rivers are turning into big "snowmobile traps.''
Warmer temperatures are expected over the next few days and the snow that has accumulated is acting like a "warm blanket on the thin ice." That makes rivers and lakes appear safe -- but they are not.
"Ice conditions can change rapidly each day due to milder temperatures, so we urge those who operate snowmobiles to be aware of the trail conditions," says Chief Superintendent Bill Grodzinski, Commander of the Highway Safety Division and the Province's snowmobile programs.
"When unsure, avoid traveling over any bodies of water."
Already this winter, the OPP has investigated a snowmobile death in eastern Ontario attributed to thin ice conditions. Three victims drove across a lake and fell through the ice. One passenger was not able to pull himself from the frigid water.
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) has issued a "Yellow Alert" in relation to current snowmobiling conditions in the province.
This alert signals the need to use patience and be very cautious on swamps and waterways, "because the weight and insulating effect of the heavy snow may cause slush, and ice that was not safe before the storm may be weakened by the extra snow."
Information on trail conditions is available from
