The first ice thickness measurements for Yellowknife in the winter of 2026-27 show none of the city’s lakes had reached the recommended six-inch thickness for walking as of Sunday, November 8.
The Great Slave Snowmobile Association heads out each fall to test the ice once a week at a range of points across Yellowknife.
The association sent Cabin Radio its initial data for the season on Monday afternoon.
Only a handful of lakes have reached five-inch thickness at the locations tested: Niven Lake, parts of Frame Lake, parts of Range Lake, Rat Lake and Fault Lake.
Open water was still recorded in multiple locations, including Yellowknife Bay.
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The city recommends staying off the ice for walking and skating until it is at least six inches thick, though that hasn’t stopped plenty of residents enjoying a skate in recent days.
Even once the snowmobile association’s tests reach six inches, the association and city stress, the ice might be weaker in places on each lake – and residents should take care.
This November is forecast to be significantly milder than usual, which may slow the freeze-up and could interfere with preparations for the Yellowknife-Dettah ice road, not to mention the Snowcastle, which generally uses this time of year as prime ice harvesting season.
