December 3, 2024
Ice Update Effective December 3, 2024
Hey Summerside!
It’s that time of year and the cooler temperatures are upon us. We’re making great progress on preparing ice surfaces for all of you to enjoy this season and have an ice update for you! This seems like the ideal time to go outdoor skating, and we’d LOVE for you to join us. However, we’ll have to wait a bit as we’re at the mercy of the current forecast. It’s important to note we don’t have mechanical cooling for our skating surfaces so we are completely dependent on Mother Nature. Two of the main considerations to think about before creating the rinks are temperature and precipitation. A good rule of thumb is no positive temperatures and lows of at least -7 degrees Celsius for 7 days. Obviously, the less snow the better as it acts as an insulator. Right now, we are still enjoying some higher temperatures that prevent solid, good ice from being built. Building solid, beautiful ice, can take many hours over a period of several days.
Our land-based rink, Jellybean, is starting to take shape. However, the warm weather in the forecast will slow things down a bit. The rink over the concrete pad (Jellybean) is built in layers, and each layer needs to be frozen (bonded) before the next goes down. If temperatures are too warm, with the dark pad beneath, you will lose the bond due to melting. If this occurs, air trapped under the ice either needs to be removed or ice quality will be sacrificed. If temperatures are too cold, you are likely to have issues with shell ice but this typically doesn’t happen unless it gets below -15 degrees Celsius. Although the lake has areas that appear to be frozen there is still some areas that haven’t frozen. As a reminder, the lake ice is currently closed to all residents. When it is safe to do so we will begin taking comprehensive measurements and closely monitor the ice thickness and quality. Not all ice is created equal and this is a consideration when determining the ice-bearing capacity.
As for the lake ice, there’s still sitting water on the surface. This means it’s not yet safe for activities—safety first! though our Parks Team has been and will continue to monitor ice thickness, please remember ice safety can change quickly based on a variety of conditions. If you see any large cracks, standing water, or any holes larger than an auger would create, please immediately leave the ice and inform us at the SSRA. .Stay tuned for further updates as we navigate through this warm spell. A big thank you for your patience and understanding. And remember, even though we’re taking a break from the ice, feel free to drop by and enjoy the warmth! If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.
A reminder our flags are still flying RED 🚩 Meaning lake access is prohibited until further notice. For current flag status please take a look at our website > Flags > Current Status
We know you are excited – we are too! As soon as the rinks are ready, we will announce it on our website, and social media.
For more information about preparing ice surfaces, visit us at www.lakesummerside.ca > Reservations
At this time, the park is open until 6:00 pm. Once ice surfaces open, the Park hours will extend. Stay tuned for any updates via our social media, website. For more information about the Flag System please visit www.lakesummerside.ca > ‘Flags’ > Information.
We thank you for your patience! If you have any questions, please contact our office at 780-497-7558.
