The Town of Strathmore is warning residents that looks can be deceiving when it comes to skating on storm ponds.
According to the town, there are two designated storm ponds in the area where skating is permitted: Kinsmen Lake and Strathmore Lake.
"Other storm ponds in town may look inviting, but they are not safe for skating," wrote the town. "Hidden hazards beneath the surface create unpredictable and often dangerously weak ice."
Storm ponds are designed to collect runoff, such as melting snow, to prevent overland flooding while filtering the water before it returns to the river.
"Because water levels in storm ponds are constantly changing, unstable air gaps form between the ice and water, making the ice even weaker," added the town.
Staff is also warning about the sediment and contaminants that compromise ice stability, saying that "the ice thickness on a storm pond is never predictable".
As of Feb. 26, the ice is still thick enough to skate on at Kinsmen Lake and Strathmore Lake. However, the town warns that the ice is wet.