'I have never seen anything like it': Strange weather phenomenon leaves Lake Manitoba covered in ice balls
A weather phenomenon has left Lake Manitoba near Steep Rock covered in balls of ice, and one expert believes it all could have been caused by snowflakes.
Peter Hofbauer, a resident near Steep Rock, goes out to Lake Manitoba almost every day, but he said he found something he had never seen before when he went out to the lake on Saturday.
The lake was covered in orbs of ice.
A photo taken on Nov. 21, 2021, shows a weather phenomenon that left Lake Manitoba near Steep Rock covered in balls of ice. (Submitted: Carly Price)
"I've never seen ice shaped like that before," he said.
Julienne Stroeve, a professor in the University of Manitoba Department of Environment and Geography, said she was surprised when she saw the pictures of the strange ice formations.
"I have never seen anything like it," she said.
As for what caused the ice balls to form, Stroeve believes snowflakes may be the culprit.
A photo taken on Nov. 21, 2021, shows a weather phenomenon that left Lake Manitoba near Steep Rock covered in balls of ice. (Submitted: Carly Price)
"The snow flakes could have acted like a catalyst around which, all of a sudden the top layer could start to freeze and form ice," she said. "If you have some wave or wind action that starts to turn everything up, you can get these kinds of snowball shapes to form."
She said a similar phenomenon can happen in the arctic.
"You get this pancake ice, and that really happens when the surface layer first freezes and you get a thin sheet of ice starting to form, and then the wave action kind of makes these little pieces of ice bump together and you get these rounded edges and you get these pancake shapes."
She said it is interesting to see a weather phenomenon like this in Manitoba.
A photo submitted to CTV News on Nov. 23, 2021, of ice pancakes at Winnipeg Beach. (Submitted: Pat Payjack)
"I think there is always these fascinating weather phenomena that occur that can create some really beautiful forms in nature, and I guess this is just one of them," she said.
Hofbauer said in Manitoba, you never know what you will find when you head outside.
"Just keep our eyes and ears open, and we can learn something every time we go outside from nature."
-with files from CTV's Mason DePatie and Jon Hendricks
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.