Pennine Canals - a guide to freezing periods?

[Emerald Fox]

Now that March is here I imagine all of the waterways are ice-free (?). Looking back over this Winter, what has the general pattern of ice on the canals been?

 

We're wondering what the situation is like up in the Pennines - Huddersfield Canals, Rochdale Canal, Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Have these been frozen this Winter and roughly from when to when?

 

So that we'd have some kind of idea whether we may be likely to be moving next Christmas-New Year up that way, or frozen in. Are there spots that regularly freeze?

 

All we have is our own experience of the southern Oxford Canal which was most definitely iced over on 30th Dec Oxford - Thrupp, and 31st Dec Thrupp - Upper Heyford.

 

There have been photos posted of iced-up canal stretches, but has anybody made a guide as to likely times of freezing?

[RichardH]

It has varied each year in the 10 years we have been on the summit of the L&L. For the past 2 years freezing has been minimal. For 2 years consecutive to that we were frozen for almost 2 months.

[Pluto]

This chart was produced in 1919 when they were considering improving the canal to 100 ton standard. It should answer your question as it shows the frequency and length of stoppage due to ice over a number of years. You probably need to factor in climate change and warming!

[Jim Riley]

I live and moor near Rochdale Summit, it's not been frozen much this year, certainly not with ice that would stop a narrowboat intent on moving. Then again who knows, 2 years ago we were snowed in for a week in April when an unusual cold snap hit. Such is the changing climate.

[Dar Kuma]

up north fer summer daan sath fer winter

its warmer down south in winter, not much but a little.

[SamKingfisher]

It isn't predictable. Next winter there may be almost no ice on the LL, or there may be hardly any thaw. Shady spots like Shipley seem to freeze the worst.

 

If you aren't concerned about your blacking, you can often force a passage.

 

Skipton has frozen as early as November in the last ten years. Ish.

[Loafer]

Mrs Loafer has some freezing periods.

 

On a serious note, I've developed a sort of mental guideline to freezing. If the overnight air temp reaches about -3C for more than a 'few' nights, PLUS the daytime temp not getting above around 4-5C, then icing is highly likely. Less likely on water that's moving, like the Welsh.

[Señor Chris]

its warmer down south in winter, not much but a little.

 

It's also warmer in the west than the east in winter.

[Pluto]

Moving water is also less likely to freeze, so the ice is thinner 'below' points where there is a feed. Above Greenberfield Locks (L&LC), the water freezes less than at the other end of the summit level as Greenberfield is where the Winterburn supply enters the canal. After the Winterburn pipeline was built, additional pipes were installed to allow water to feed into the Marton Pool at several points, thus ensuring that the water froze more slowly.