Grand River Conservation Authority is warning residents along the Grand River to exercise extreme caution around rivers, streams and water bodies following heavy rains, and ice melting earlier this week.

While the GRCA is not anticipating the risk of major flooding, they issued a statement saying water flows will remain high throughout the watershed this weekend and into next week.

GRCA dams are in place to reduce the risk of downstream flooding.

While air temperatures may be well above normal, water temperatures are still just above freezing. Anyone going into the water could fall victim to hypothermia within minutes, losing feeling in arms and legs and then becoming unconscious.