Ottawa police warn of thin ice after warm weather

Police in Ottawa are warning people to be careful on the ice this weekend after unusual, spring-like temperatures.

On Saturday police cautioned that while the ice on the city's lakes and rivers might look solid, it might actually be thinner than expected.

According to the department, the ice should be at least 15 cm thick for walking and skating and 35 cms thick for fishing huts.

Conservation authorities are seconding the warning to be vigilant near frozen lakes and rivers.

"I wouldn't do it, personally," said Patrick Larson, a senior water resources technician with the Rideau Valley Conservation Area. "But ice fishermen know their sport."

While a return to cooler temperatures means some of the ice will freeze again, Larson cautioned it may not be entirely stable, and has some advice for anyone thinking of venturing near waterways.

Shorter ice fishing season?

"Stay back. Take care. Use the telephoto lens instead of getting up close," he said. "It's just safer to be away from the water bodies right now."

Mathieu Grandmaître, the operations manager at the Oziles Marina ice-fishing village, near Petrie Island in Ottawa's east end, said the unseasonably warm temperatures will likely mean a shorter ice-fishing season.

"Some people just won't quit, (but) a lot of people are getting their huts ready to be taken off the ice," he said.

Normally eight to ten weeks in length, Grandmaître said he expects this year's season to wrap up two weeks early.

"There's a lot of water on the ice," he said. "There's a lot of holes — like ruts and stuff opening up — but we still drive with cars on the ice."