Warm weather dampens Winterlude, keeps Rideau Canal closed this weekend

Winterlude 2023 has thusfar beenmarked by the steady drip of melting ice, as many of its iconicsculptures are quicklyturningtopuddlesless than halfwaythrough the festival.

Outside of anextreme cold snap last week, winter in Ottawa has been uncharacteristically warm this year.

Environment Canada forecasts daily highs above 0 C in the capital for most of the next week,and the National Capital Commission said Wednesday that the Rideau Canal Skatewaywill remain closed for at leastanother weekend.

Here are some images from a warm Winterludein downtown Ottawa: