RCMP Advises All Manitoba Bodies Of Water Unsafe; Ice Roads On Hold, Grass Fires Close Calgary Hwy

EDIT

But in Manitoba the warm weather is hitting some aboriginal communities hard. Grand Chief David Harper, who represents the province’s northern First Nations, has said unseasonably warm weather means ice roads aren’t even close to being constructed. The winter transportation system is vital in Manitoba. The province estimates some 2,500 shipments of staple items are transported each year by trucks over 2,200 kilometres of icy road instead of being flown in at great expense.

Manitoba RCMP have also warned people to be aware of lake safety. All frozen water bodies are considered to be unsafe because of the mild weather.

Environment Canada predicts the abnormally warm weather will continue for the next few weeks, with temperatures possibly hitting record levels in parts of southern Alberta. The County of Lethbridge is banning open fires and cancelling all active fire permits because of high winds and warm temperatures.

On Wednesday afternoon, RCMP reported a large grass fire near Walsh in southeastern Alberta. Mounties said high winds helped the fire spread quickly and it crossed into southwestern Saskatchewan. South of Calgary, RCMP had to close Highway 2 near Fort MacLeod due to multiple vehicle rollovers and a fire which crossed the highway.

EDIT

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1110681--wacky-warm-weather-across-prairies-breaks-records-snowmobilers-hearts