The province has issued a thin ice advisory for rivers, streams and lakes in Southern Manitoba.

The Manitoba Hydrologic Forecast Centre says these bodies of water are in the process of freezing over and ice is still very thin. Some rivers still have open water in areas and ice conditions on the Assiniboine and Red rivers may be dangerous now through mid-December.

Officials say snowmobilers, skiers and others are advised not to venture onto rivers and lakes due to the danger of falling through. They warn thin ice is often covered by snow, which produces weak spots due to its insulating effect. Areas of fast-flowing water tend to have thin ice which may not be visible.

Once full ice cover has occurred, levels of the Red River and other rivers in southern Manitoba are not expected to change much during the rest of this winter.