It took us many days to decide to write this article because, for a while, we didn't think ice on the South Thompson River was worth a story... But the "Kamloops Ice Disk" has taken the River City by storm, so here we are!
For days now, residents have hiked the Jack Gregson trail across from the Tk'emlups powwow grounds to catch a glimpse of this natural phenomena. When in view, residents can see a revolving disk of ice that moves because of the cold water surrounding it.
Ice disks are defined as circles that occur in slow-moving water in cold climates that can vary in size. Some have been said to grow up to 298 feet in diameter, though the one in Kamloops was estimated by residents at just 40.
Environment Canada Meteorologist Doug Lundquist couldn't speak to how this magnificent piece came to be, but he explained that as the water temperature warms, the ice should disappear.
"My logical intuition is that, because it is moving ice, and it's rotating in that bed or whatever, it's going to melt faster," said Lundquist. "Moving water tends to melt things faster than stationary ice, but that's just thinking of the physics of it from my own head. It's going to melt as it warms for sure."
Lundquist agreed that the ice forming the way it did was definitely unique, and noted it was worth checking out while you still can.
"It is cool, just like the Northern Lights are cool, or satellites in skies, all those kinds of things I think are cool so I would be out looking at it."
Can't check out the disk yourself? YouTuber Ian McDonald posted a video of it so you don't miss out!
