Recent warmup raises ice safety concerns in Saskatchewan

Winter sports enthusiasts are being asked to keep safety top of mind when heading out on the ice with the recent January thaw affecting ice conditions.

A recent January thaw has raised concerns about ice safety, and officials are warning people to use caution on lakes and ponds.

Leah Switzer, executive director of the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association, says many of its clubs are reporting poor ice conditions.

“What they’re seeing is a lot of slush on top of the ice, so a lot of the lakes aren’t reporting the thickness they would like to see,” Switzer said.

She says the problems stem from a mild November and, in some northern areas, heavy snowfall before consistent cold temperatures.

As a result, the ice didn’t get as thick as usual, and the January thaw made conditions worse.

“Our perfect season would be a good stretch of cold weather that really freezes the ground, freezes the water, then you get the snow,” she said.

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For storm ponds in Saskatoon, the fire department says the warmup didn’t have a significant impact.

“There may be some slush on top, but the ice should have held up pretty good,” said Deputy Chief Rob Hogan with the Saskatoon Fire Department.

When heading out on the ice, Saskatchewan RCMP caution against walking on white or snow ice, saying it is the weakest type. It says wait for strong, clear blue ice to form.

The Canadian Red Cross recommends an ice thickness of 15 centimetres for small walking or skiing groups and 25 centimetres for snowmobiles and ATVs.

Hogan says if someone falls through the ice, they should tread water, lift themselves onto the solid ice, and lie flat to spread their weight evenly.

RCMP say if a person is seen falling through the ice, call 911 immediately. It says the safest way to help is from the shore, using a long pole or throwing a rope to the person in need.