Environment Canada is anticipating a warm weekend in Saskatoon and the surrounding area, which could mean an increase in the number of people wanting to cool off near the South Saskatchewan River.
But, it comes with a warning from The Saskatoon Fire Department.
It says not only is swimming in the river dangerous, it’s also illegal within Saskatoon city limits.
The water flow this weekend will be quite low but that brings its own set of dangers. The downstream end of a sandbar is like an overhang of a snowdrift, and someone could easily break through into a deep water trench, according to the fire department.
"I believe the river is dangerous because of a lack of education," Battalion Chief Len Protz with the Saskatoon Fire Department told CTV News Friday. "People who are unaware of the constant current that flows through the river, so people who are unaware of that fact, they are maybe just not strong swimmers, so that creates a certain degree of danger."
The Meewasin Valley Authority recommends keeping an eye on children at the river’s edge and ensuring they are wearing a lifejacket.
