The wintery weather forecast for the next week is going to accelerate the opening of the city’s 400-metre outdoor ice oval.
Below-freezing temperatures are predicted for the next seven days and that should create ideal conditions for volunteer flooding crews at the Exhibition Park oval to build up the ice enough to allow the rink to open by next weekend.
“We’re not really close yet, we still have to build quite a bit more ice and in some places it’s really thin,” said Kathy Lewis, president of the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George. “As soon as we open it’s very difficult for us to build ice because just we can’t get the floods in that we need.
“We’re probably shooting for next weekend, as long as it stays cold enough and we can get several floods in a day.”
The above-average temperatures the past few weeks have delayed the opening. Last year the rink opened in late-November.
The forecast high today will only reach -3 C, with the low dipping to -11 C and an overnight wind chill of -18 C. Sunday’s high of -8C and a predicted low of -9 C will be perfect for making ice. The wind will turn water into ice faster.
The cold is expected to continue later in the week with a high of -5 C and a low of -8 C on Monday. Periods of snow are forecast for Monday night, and will continue Tuesday with a high on 0 C and a low of -4. Highs will range from 0 C to -7 C Wednesday to Friday with minus double-digit lows all three days.
Lewis said the society is still looking for volunteers to assist with hose flooding. Once the base has been built up to an inch or two thick the crews will use a water truck for flooding and the Zamboni to scrape down the rough spots.
Due to the pandemic there will be no skate rentals this season and the changerooms in Canfor House will remain closed.
Got to www.pgoval.ca for more information.
