Wood Buffalo residents can utter a sigh of relief now that the Athabasca River ice breakup is officially over. The municipality made it official by announcing that the river breakup is finished and the flooding threat from the ice is no longer a concern. For a week before the event ended there was ice that was located in the municipality which had stopped. This final threat was lifted once the ice in the area flowed away to the north of Fort MacMurray. Long time local residents are accustomed to the yearly river breakup and the possibility that stopped ice in the area could cause flooding during this time of year. Some areas of Fort MacMurray have ended up under water during the Spring ice flows on the Athabasca River in past years so this year was a good one.

Just because the Athabasca River ice breakup is over this does not mean that municipal authorities will stop monitoring the condition of the river. The municipality is warning residents that the shorelines and banks of the river may still be dangerous because of ice which has accumulated in these areas. Until 1 p.m. last Tuesday there was ice which was stopped in Wood Buffalo, but the ice that was jammed up near the Clearwater River entrance worked its way through and is no longer in Wood Buffalo. Spring time in Fort MacMurray and the surrounding region can be beautiful and dangerous both. Residents need to be prepared during this time of year and watch for any hazards.