FEATURED by Shane Chevalier

Thursday, December 29, 2023

Over the last few days across Canada, several Canadians have lost their lives due to incidents involving thin ice on partially frozen over bodies of water. An Alberta family died on December 23, after the family of three fell through the ice on a body of water that was not completely frozen. The three were riding on a UTV when it broke through the ice.

Quite a few western regions have not been cold enough to sustain people, pets, and vehicles on local bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Warm weather continues to dominate much of western Canada with a freeze and thaw cycle. The winter season has only just begun (autumn is not winter) and most of Canada could not bank on having a cold autumn season like we felt in 2022.

With freeze and thaw cycles, bodies of water can’t maintain thickness of ice, therefore making it a very dangerous situation on the water.

Here is a video story from The Weather Network on how to check to see if the ice is safe! The ice needs to be at least 15 cm thick for a person to walk on, 20 cm thick for skating or a group of people on, and at least 25 cm thick for snowmobiling, according to the Canadian Red Cross.

Avoid the ice if it is white opaque or snow ice. Grey ice indicates the presence of water and is very unsafe to stand on.

The weather pattern over the next few days will remain warm in Prince George but as stated earlier, winter is here and with it comes colder temperatures unlike what we had during the autumn. A cold spell along with some snow is presented in the upcoming forecast that could drop temperatures down to the low minus 20’s, but as usual, it is too early to say just how cold it could get as it will change by early January.

Be safe out there!!