The Rideau Canal Skateway was closed temporarily after Environment Canada rightly predicted that freezing rain was coming to the Ottawa area.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) announced the closure of the Rideau Canal Skateway at approximately 6 a.m. this morning, said Jasmine Leduc, an NCC media relations officer.
The closure was announced just two days after a 1.4 km section of ice was opened to skaters between the Corktown Foot Bridge at Somerset Street and the Bank Street Bridge. In total, 3.6 km of the total 7.8 km skating surface was open to the public before the closure.
The freezing rain should hit the area around noon on Monday and will turn into rainy periods as the temperature rises above freezing, according to meteorologists at Environment Canada.
The abnormal temperatures are expected to last until the afternoon of Jan. 24.
Freezing rain and snow on the ice surface may hide deterioration of the ice surface or prevent more ice from developing, said Leduc.
The NCC urges the public to obey the barricades that have been put up at each entrance to the skateway.
An ice safety team is closely monitoring the ice and, when weather permits, crews will begin cleaning up the ice surface for public use, said Leduc.
“We’re hoping for the weather to drop so we can reopen the canal,” said Leduc.