Ice crossings on N.W.T rivers affected by mild fall temperatures
Ice crossings on the Peel and Mackenzie rivers in the N.W.T. are being affected by this fall's above-average temperatures, leaving community leaders and senior climatologists worried it's a sign of what can be expected in the years to come.
Jason MacNeil, the N.W.T. Department of Infrastructure's superintendent for the Beaufort Delta region, was expecting some delay, though he said changing weather conditions made it difficult to set opening dates for the ice crossings to open. But he is certain about one trend in recent years.
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“Our opening and closings are being pushed back farther and farther,” he said.
The Peel River crossing opened on Thursday for vehicles weighing less than 5,000 kilograms. The opening came three days after the five-year average opening date of Nov. 24.
The M.V. Louis Cardinal on one of its last runs of the season. The Peel River ice crossing opened on Thursday, three days after the five-year historical average opening date of Nov. 24. (Submitted by Lawrence Norbert)
The Mackenzie River crossing at Tsiighetchic is still closed. Its average five-year opening date is Dec. 2, just a few days away.
Crews are busy preparing ice-building equipment, from ice augers, to ice-making and flooding machines, MacNeil said, as he holds out hope colder temperatures are coming.
Grace Blake lives in Tsiigehtchic. She said it’s quiet, and that there hasn’t been a lot of activity on the ice road yet.
“I’m sure people are anxious to hear about that, but the conditions don’t warrant any activity on the rivers yet that I can see,” she said.
Canadian winter forecast 2025-26 for temperatures. (The Weather Network)
Blake said there have been very mild temperatures in the region, and in previous years crews have had to be extra cautious carrying out work on the rivers, especially in the area where the Red River meets the Mackenzie River.
“There’s great caution that has to be taken when thinking about starting to work on the rivers,” she said.” There’s a lot of water under all that snow. It’s heavy, that snow... Maybe that ice is not that thick or that safe.”
David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said there is "no question" that climate change is happening and people will have to "get used to it."
“There is no sector, no people, that hasn’t been affected by climate change,” he said.
Snowfall outlook in the Canadian winter forecast 2025-26. (The Weather Network)
He said the months of September, October and November this year have been exceptionally warm, particularly in the N.W.T., and that has consequences on hunting and fishing.
“One degree would be exceptional, but to have three or four degrees warmer than normal ... It’s a slam dunk in terms of this year beating all other years... in the last 78 years.”
“The dice has been loaded to give you a warmer than normal fall,” said Phillips.
Thumbnail courtesy of Lawrence Norbert via CBC.
The story was originally written by Mike Lapointe and published for CBC News. It contains files from Wanda McLeod.