Montreal's artificial outdoor rinks closed due to warm weather

Apparently even Montreal's artificial outdoor rinks can't handle the unseasonably warm weather.

While it's not unusual in recent years for natural outdoor rinks to remain closed for several more weeks than they used to be,refrigerated rinks are usually open byearly December.

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The refrigerated rink inConfederation Park inNotre-Dame-de-Grce, for instanceoperated with the help of theMontreal Canadiens' charity foundation Bleu, Blanc, Bougeopened with a party on Dec. 5.

Butit's now closed for the foreseeable future.

Sophie Landreville, a spokesperson for the borough of Cte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce, saidit's beentoo hot to keep the rink open this year,even with arefrigeration system.

Landreville said she doesn't know when it will open.

"We can't predict the weather," she said.

The skating rink atBeaver Lake was scheduled to open tomorrow, but that has also been put on hold indefinitely.

The temperature in Montreal today was 12 Cabove the average, according to Environment Canada.

Last year on this day, the city was hit with 20 cm of snow.