The City of Kelowna issues thin ice warning as temperatures rise

People in the Thompson-Okanagan are starting to warm up after almost two full weeks of a deep freeze caused by sub-arctic air.

A Castanet reader sent us an impressive drone video of people getting out to enjoy a skate on the canals and lagoon area of Waterfront Park in Kelowna.

With warmer temperatures in the forecast, including a 60 per cent chance of rain on Sunday, the City of Kelowna is reminding residents to take care around frozen ponds and waterways.

A news release states, "in these final days of winter, the City of Kelowna is reminding residents to exercise caution around frozen ponds and other waterways, and to refrain from skating or walking on the surface ice."

The news release indicates that the City’s Park Services staff do not maintain or inspect the ice surface on public waterways and there is no guarantee the ice is thick enough to support a person’s weight. "Pond ice may look thick enough and safe to skate on but, especially late in the season, thickness can change quickly and dramatically, creating potential for injury."

The news release focuses specifically on the ice on the lagoon at Waterfront Park, "the lagoon has a current flowing through it, which makes ice thickness especially unpredictable. It also has a lining between the water and the concrete below that could easily be torn by a skate and fixing that tear would be a considerable undertaking. For these reasons, the City discourages residents from skating on the lagoon."

The news release points out that there other skating opportunities, including the Stuart Park ice rink, the Capital News Centre, Rutland Arena and Prospera Arena.