Ice activities on Okanagan lakes discouraged due to warmer weather – Okanagan | 24CA News

With temperatures considerably warming up within the Okanagan, officers are warning that ice actions on native lakes may very well be unsafe.

“Right now, we’re in a really weird transition, we came out of a really good cold snap where we had -20 to -25 C,” mentioned Captain Shawn Wudrich of the Kelowna Fire Department.

“What we have then is a clear ice developing, so when we don’t have snow on the water or on ice, we get this really nice clear ice that is stable and strong, but now we’ve moved into this weather pattern with snow on top of it.”

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Okanagan chilly snap results in water harm

According to Wudrich, snow and water masking the ice are indicators of harmful situations.

“When we can’t see the ice, it becomes a danger. Snow can insulate and add weight to the ice. What we have going on now, with our temperatures getting above zero during the day, that weight of that snow, and the deteriorating temperatures, we’re going to have water getting on top with slush and more weight on the ice,” mentioned Wudrich.

“So right now, we’re in a really unstable pattern for being on the ice.”

Ice actions like skating or fishing on the lake are particularly not advisable on bigger our bodies of water resulting from their depth.

“Anything on Okanagan Lake I would deem as unsafe as well as some of our moving water, whether Trepanier, Bear Creek, or Mission Creek. We should really be aware and stay off those bodies of water,” mentioned Wudrich.

A current incident on Okanagan Lake involving the loss of life of a number of cattle after they reportedly wandered onto the ice proved simply how unsafe the lake is presently.

“The cold snap has made most high-altitude lakes safe, just be careful, especially the Okanagan Lake,” mentioned Ed Henczel of the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue.

“I know in the north there were some issues with the cattle walking out there and walking (in the ice) and the same things can happen to people. It’s not a pleasant way to go, so be safe.”

Wudrich says temperatures hovering round -10 C will enable the ice to be extra secure. He says in the event you’re planning a visit out on the ice, be as ready as attainable and don’t go alone.

“Bring someone else, make sure people know where you are,” mentioned Wudrich.

“The ice will be thicker along the shore but as soon as we approach the ice and see snow on top, that should be a red flag right there. If we see water on the ice, we know that we see deteriorating conditions.”

While ice rescues are usually unusual within the Okanagan, in line with the fireplace division, throughout Canada there are usually 25 to 30 fatalities a yr which can be associated to ice.

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