With temperatures rising significantly in the Okanagan, officials are warning that ice activities may become unsafe on local lakes.
“Right now, we’re in a really weird transition, we’ve come out of a really nice cold snap where we had -20 to -25 C,” said Capt. Shawn Woodrich of the Kelowna Fire Department.
“We then have a clear ice developing, so when we don’t have ice on the water or snow, we get this really nice clear ice that’s stable and strong, but now we’ve moved into this weather pattern There is snow on it.
According to Woodrich, ice and water ice cover are signs of dangerous conditions.
“When we can’t see the snow, it becomes a danger. Snow can insulate and add weight to the snow. What we’re doing now, with our temperatures getting above zero during the day, that With the weight of the ice, and the worsening temperatures, we’re going to have more water on top and more weight on the ice,” Woodrich said.
“So right now, we’re in a really unstable pattern of being on ice.”
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Ice activities such as skating or fishing on the lake are not recommended due to their depth, especially on large bodies of water.
“Anything on Okanagan Lake I would consider unsafe as well as some of our running water, whether Trapanier, Bear Creek, or Mission Creek. We really need to be aware and stay away from those bodies of water,” Woodrich said.
A recent incident on Okanagan Lake involving the death of several cattle after straying on ice proved just how unsafe the lake is at the moment.
Ed Henkzel of Central Okanagan Search and Rescue said, “The cold has made most high altitude lakes safe, just be careful, especially Okanagan Lake.”
“I know there’s been some problems with cattle up north getting out there and walking (in the snow) and the same thing can happen to people. It’s not a pleasant way to go, so be safe.”
Woodrich says that temperatures hovering around -10 degrees Celsius will allow the ice to become more stable. He says that if you are planning a trip on the ice, be as prepared as possible and don’t go alone.
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Woodrich said, “Bring someone else, make sure people know where you are.”
“The ice will be thicker along the edge but as we get near the ice and see ice on top, that should be a red flag right there. If we see water on the ice, we know we see deteriorating conditions. “
While snow rescues are generally uncommon in the Okanagan, there are typically 25 to 30 deaths a year that are snow-related across Canada, according to the fire department.
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