Satellite imagery shows the difference in the ice near Délı̨nę on Great Bear Lake. On the left is an image taken May 30, 2023 and on the right is an image taken on June 1, 2022.Data is proving those observations to be true — with Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Terri Lang describing this year's spring conditions as "worrying."
Taking a step back and looking at the entire meteorological spring, from the start of March to the end of May — it was the driest ever on record for Fort Liard. In Délı̨nę, N.W.T., Leroy Andre observed back in mid-May that ice on Great Bear Lake was deteriorating faster than normal and that its water levels were low — down by about a foot.
"Our elders and the land users are saying, well, it's getting unpredictable even around the lake here in the community so no, don't bother, you know, trying to … do something that might be too dangerous." . Though, she noted, the forecast comes with caveats — the outlook depends on predicted temperatures and winds, and there is still some old ice around that'll take longer to melt.NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio created this animation of Arctic sea ice from Sept. 18, 2022 to March 6, 2023.