EDMONTON – Extreme wind gusts Friday night created some amazing ice shoves on Pigeon Lake, about 105 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.
An ice shove is created when strong winds, currents, or temperature fluctuations push ice off a body of water and onto the shoreline.
Life-long Pigeon Lake resident Irene Johnson snapped some photos Saturday morning and sent them to Global News.
She drove around the lake and told Global News the west side is where some of the largest formations occurred. Luckily, these drifts appeared near the swimming area within the provincial park, so there was no damage to structures or uprooted trees. Johnson said it’s been about 30 years since she’s seen ice shoves this big on Pigeon Lake.
“It’s amazing. Mother Nature can be at its best or it can be at its worst. If I had a lake-front cabin I would have been a little worried,” Johnson said.
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for the Edmonton area, including Pigeon Lake, Friday night. The warning was dropped by Saturday afternoon.
“With that wind being so strong, so severe it pushed a lot of ice around,” Johnson said Sunday. “It was quite the spectacular (sight).
“There’s been a steady stream of people today coming to have a look.”
READ MORE: From record temps to near hurricane force winds in Alberta
Maximum wind gusts at the Edmonton International Airport were recorded at 87 kilometres per hour, and in the nearby community of St. Francis in Leduc County the wind gusts were recorded at 100 kilometres per hour.
Ice shoves were also spotted on Lac St. Anne Saturday afternoon.
It’s not the first time the formations have appeared on lakes near Edmonton. In April 2015, the ice floes piled up on Alberta Beach threatening homes along the shoreline.
READ MORE: Massive ice floes pile up along Alberta Beach Shoreline
Comments