As the holiday season approaches and temperatures fluctuate, Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency (WSA) is reminding residents to use caution around frozen lakes, rivers, ponds and dugouts.
With more people expected to head outdoors for skating, ice fishing and winter recreation if temperatures rise, officials say ice conditions remain unpredictable across much of the province.
After a milder-than-normal fall, ice on many bodies of water may not be fully stable for several more weeks, depending on weather conditions. The agency says recent temperature swings can weaken ice, even when it appears completely frozen from a distance.
Ice thickness can vary widely within the same area, particularly on rivers or near moving water.
As a general guideline, the WSA recommends at least 10 centimetres of ice for walking, 20 centimetres for snowmobiles or ATVs, 30 centimetres for cars or light trucks, and more than 30 centimetres to support heavy vehicles.
Residents are also advised to avoid ice that appears slushy, has thawed and refrozen, forms near moving water, shows visible layering from rapid temperature changes, or contains structures such as pressure ridges.
Officials say checking local conditions and recent weather before heading out is essential, especially as more families spend time outdoors during the holidays.
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