Parts of Lake Winnipeg, Lake Manitoba under wind alert

A wind alert has been issued for parts of Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba, as government officials monitor winds that are expected to gust up to 65 kilometres an hour in the coming days.

The Manitoba government's Hydrologic Forecasting and Water Management Centre says the lake wind-effect forecast for Tuesday suggests a high wind warning for the south basin of Lake Winnipeg, as well as a "moderate to moderately high" wind warning for the south basin of Lake Manitoba.

"North winds are forecast to increase throughout the day tomorrow and will continue increasing up to 65 km/hr Wednesday morning," the province stated in a release late Monday.

The wind speed and direction could raise lake levels by as much as 0.9 metres to 1.5 metres along the south shore of Lake Winnipeg and by 0.3 to 0.6 metres on the south shore of Lake Manitoba.

The winds could also create "significant wave action," on shorelines, said the province, which is warning people who own property in the area to take precautions.

The wind speeds are forecast to diminish late on Wednesday, according to officials.