February 17, 2012 — It's the final weekend for Winterlude in Ottawa and the Rideau Canal has been temporarily shut down.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) announced Thursday that the Rideau Canal Skateway has been closed for skating until further notice. The timing is tough for the NCC as Winterlude is gearing up for its final weekend.
Officials say Ottawa's brush of mild weather is to blame for the closure.
"Temperatures have been above the freezing mark recently," says Brian Dillon, a meteorologist of The Weather Network. "And the warmer weather will continue through Saturday."
The 7.8 km skating rink has developed a slushy, wet surface and that means there could be a drastic drop from the average one million tourists it usually attracts each year.
According to officials with the NCC, the skateway didn't open until January 31, the first Saturday of Winterlude.
The canal suffered some setbacks in January due to rain and fluctuating temperatures. The milder conditions can impact the ice growth and prevent the surface from solidifying.
Festive ice sculptures on the canal have also started to deteriorate in the warmer conditions.
The NCC said it would reopen the canal to skating once the weather has cooled enough to allow crews to start working on it again.
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