Residents in Burlington, Ontario, should stay away from shoreline ice as temperatures rise and rain is expected between February 16 and February 18, 2026. This sudden weather change could make ice along the waterfront unstable and dangerous for anyone walking near the lake.
According to Environment Canada, temperatures are forecast to reach 6°C on February 16 and 5°C on February 17, with rain expected on February 18. The warmer weather can cause the ice to become porous and weak, even if it still looks solid on the surface.
The timing of the thaw is important because Monday, February 16, is Family Day, a public holiday when many people typically visit local parks and the waterfront. The City of Burlington has noted that ice near the LaSalle Park Community Marina is especially dangerous because of underwater machines called bubblers. These devices keep the water moving to prevent ice from forming around docks, which leaves the nearby ice too thin to support the weight of people or pets.
Conservation Halton issues safety notices when melting ice or moving water create hazards for the public near local waterways. This warm stretch follows a cold warning issued by Halton Region Public Health on February 7, 2026, which had previously kept the region in a deep freeze.
