After opening up earlier today, the Red River Mutual Trail has now been closed for the season.

Eight hours after opening up one kilometre of the river trail, The Forks has announced that the trail has officially been closed. Manitoba Infrastructure's Hydrologic Forecast Centre sent out an advisory this afternoon telling residents to stay off the ice due to rising water levels.

"People love the Red River Mutual Trail and we've worked to extend its life as long as possible to give people thje chance to get out and enjoy winter. But safety is obviously the number one priority, which is why we are heeding the warning the Province issued this afternoon," says Paul Jordan, CEO of The Forks in a release. "It's been a memorable season - definitely with the weird weather we've seen, but also with new warming huts - one made entirely of ice harvested from the Red River - and seeing upwards of 50,000 people here enjoying winter each weekend."

The Red River Mutual Trail opened January 9 and stayed open for 33 days. It stayed closed from January 21-27 due to record warmth and then closed February 18 due to rain and warm temperatures.

The raising water levels are expected to peak within four to six days, with that peak between eight and ten feet. Ice conditions on southern rivers and lakes may be hazordous, especially towards the middle of the ice.