Record cold leads to record ice for Ontario

It's been a month for the history books with extreme temperatures across Ontario, which has led torecord ice coverage on the Great Lakes and itstributaries.

The arctic air that's settled over much of Canada this February has had a huge impact on Lake Superior. The Canadian Ice Service Agency said onthe big lake was almost completely ice-covered a few days ago. A week ago it was 87 per centice covered.

"It's as close to 100 per centas it can get," said DenisDube, who speaks for the ice service.

"We would put it at 100 per centif the whole lake would freeze over and the ice would stop moving, but that would be really bad news. That would never happenor, if it did happen, it would be another ice age or something."

Last year, the lake was frozen over in mid-February, he noted. During an average winter the lake would be 36 per centice-covered at this time of year.

Struggle ahead

The CEO of the Thunder Bay Port Authority saidheavy ice cover on the Great Lakes may create what he calls "another struggle" at the opening of this year's shipping season.

The cold weather across the province has caused ice to form on all the Great Lakes, including Ontario and Erie, and that will likely lead to delays in moving cargo, Tim Heney said.

Last year, the port of Thunder Bay opened late due to thick ice on Superior, and in the harbour. There are already plans in the works to manage the situation this season.

"They are looking again this year to bring in a Canadian Arctic Ice Breaker like we had last year into the system,for the opening. Those kind of requests usually indicate heavy ice conditions, so people are starting to prepare for that," Heney said.

"There is likely going to be some delays quite likely. We are 3,300 kilometres inland, so there is a lot of system to open up before you get here. It's not just Lake Superior that causes the issue."

Lake Erie is almost entirely covered in ice, and the water spray from Niagara Falls is creating a spectacle, as can been seen in the CBC News video above.

You can also click here to watch the video.