A Watershed Conditions Statement for Water Safety was issued for Parry Sound District Wednesday afternoon.
Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry put the statement in effect until Wednesday next week.
The warning extends to residents within the MNRF Parry Sound District which includes the District Municipality of Muskoka, the Territorial District of Parry Sound and a north-west portion in the County of Haliburton.
Higher water levels and flow conditions are anticipated as a result of melting snow, and precipitation moving through the area, which is forecast to drop 25-35mm of precipitation on Wednesday through Friday.
The system is forecast to move into the area Wednesday bringing 15 to 25 mm of rain to the region, then push across the area and drop another 10 mm of precipitation on Friday.
The ministry says the amount of precipitation, as well as the track of the system, is currently uncertain.
Over the next week, the daytime highs range between 16°C and 4°C, with overnight lows between 7°C and -7°C.
Residents are reminded to keep a close watch on conditions and regularly check for updated messages.
With the rain and warmer temperatures, banks and shorelines adjacent to water bodies can be extremely slippery and unstable.
Residents and visitors should exercise caution while around water bodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets.
Ice conditions will continue to deteriorate on local lakes.
The province also advises extreme caution when using forest access roads for outdoor activities as they may become seasonally inundated with water, are prone to washouts and may become impassible due to localized flooding.