El Nino causing lack of river ice in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG — It’s a strange winter for ice conditions in Manitoba.

While some fishers have had to rescue vehicles that have fallen through the ice, festivals and events planned at The Forks are having to change their plans because the river hasn’t frozen over yet and experts say it may not at all this winter.

READ MORE: Winnipeg’s new ice festival hits roadblock after river won’t freeze

A group of 40 chinese ice artists thought they would get ice from the river at The Forks to create the Great Ice Show, but instead they have to go somewhere where the water has frozen, a gravel pit near Birds Hill.

They have to cut out thousands of large chunks of ice, load them onto a semi and bring them to Winnipeg, a long process.

RAW: Crews work to cut and load large chunks of ice.

Weather expert Jay Anderson says this is an unusual winter for one reason.

“We’ve got an El Nino on steroids today, this whole winter,” said Anderson, “we’ve been expecting this since March and it came in gang busters.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We've got an El Nino on steroids today, this whole winter," said Anderson, "we've been expecting this since March and it came in gang busters."

This El Nino is the strongest one in 40 years, meaning we can expect bursts of mild weather throughout January.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if there are some parts of the ice that can’t be used for the entire winter,” said Anderson.

The lack of ice has put the Raw Almond, the popular restaurant on the river, on thin ice. Organizers say if the river doesn’t freeze by January 11, the restaurant will be moved on land at The Forks.

“This year specifically, the only thing we can predict is that the ice is unpredictable,” said Corporal Bert Paquet, with the Manitoba RCMP.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This year specifically, the only thing we can predict is that the ice is unpredictable," said Corporal Bert Paquet, with the Manitoba RCMP.

The thin ice caused Manitoba Conservation to warn fishers on Manitoba lakes Tuesday after a group had to rescue their bombardier and snowmobile from falling into Lake Winnipeg.

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“People tempt their fate often take risks,” said Paquet, “if there’s a little voice in your head that says maybe what you’re doing is not smart or dangerous it probably is, listen to it.”