A noted lack of sea ice off the northeast coast of Newfoundland this spring is the result of a warmer than usual winter in the Davis Strait.
Senior Ice Forecaster with Environment Canada’s Canadian Ice Service, George Karaganis, says because temperatures didn’t dip as deeply as they normally would, the ice that formed was thinner than usual, and is melting far quicker, meaning less ice making its way south to the coast of Newfoundland.
He says the ice season started slow, and while it did recover in February in terms of coverage, the ice was, on average, 30 to 40 cm thinner than usual. That means as it moves south along the coast of Labrador, it is more easily destroyed as it melts.
He says current models show warmer than usual temperatures through the summer months.