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The entire length of the Rideau Canal Skateway will temporarily close Monday night, according to the National Capital Commission (NCC).
Sunny days and recent warmer temperatures have had an impact on the ice surface, the NCC said in a media release.
“This precautionary closure will help protect the skateway and give our teams the opportunity to smooth the ice once conditions improve,” the agency said.
All 7.8 kilometres of the skateway will be off limits as of 10 p.m., the NCC said, adding that it hoped to reopen the ice “as soon as possible.”
Tuesday’s forecast calls for freezing drizzle and a high of 3 C, with temperatures hovering around the freezing mark for most of the week.
The canal opened for skating on Dec. 31. It’s been open for 41 days, the NCC said, with more than 785,000 visits so far this season.
There were also roughly 141,000 visits this past weekend, the final weekend of Winterlude.