The Rideau Canal Skateway has been shut down temporarily because of recent mild weather and poor ice conditions, the NCC announced today.
The recent combination of sunny days and higher temperatures softened the ice until it was no longer safe to skate on, said NCC spokesperson Emily Keogh.
But it may not be time to shelve the skates yet.
If temperatures drop once again, the NCC will be able to start flooding the canal at night and reopen it to continue the season.
“The longer term forecast is predicting some cooler temperatures,” Keogh said.
The skating season this year has already been longer and continued later into the year than the last six seasons, according to NCC statistics.
The current season has given Ottawa 58 skating days, which was last matched in the 2008 to 2009 winter season. None of the last six seasons were open past March 5. One more skating day and this will be the longest skating season in seven years.
“We’re hoping we can reopen,” Keogh said.
If the weather co-operates, Keogh said the canal could be ready for flooding as early as this Wednesday.