Heavy snow and slush create dangerous conditions on local lakes

The heavy snow fall is starting to impact those who play on our lakes.

The heavy snowfall is making conditions difficult for those who enjoy winter activities on local lakes. With record-breaking amounts of snow in some areas, officials warn about a dangerous mix of snow and slush on frozen bodies of water.

“A lot of snow and a lot of slush,” said Barrie resident Doug Haslehurst. “So, it’s going to be hard going for the next little while.”

While snow is usually welcomed by outdoor enthusiasts, police say there have been several cases of people getting stuck on the lakes, particularly while riding snowmobiles.

“The concern is the snow-load on top of the ice. What happens with that is with the big insulation blanket it puts pressure down on the ice, which drives the water up to the top surface, which creates a recipe for basically sledders finding themselves stranded,” explained OPP Const. Kriss Beatty.

Tom Carr, who operates Fatal Force Outfitters, said he’s received several calls in recent days from stuck snowmobilers.

“What happens is you end up plowing snow, your machine won’t actually stay on top of it. There’s just too much powder. So, it’s going to be very difficult for your machine to stay on top of it,” Carr said.

Many people say they are avoiding frozen lakes altogether due to the challenging conditions.

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