SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Dettah ice road will be closing Thursday, April 8, at noon, according to an official with the Department of Transportation.

The Dettah ice road is closing for the season April 8 due to the unseasonably warm warm weather of late. - NNSL file photo

Megan Munro, communications co-ordinator with the department, said late Wednesday afternoon that the road is being shut down due to the warm weather streak as of late. The temperature reached 5 C on Wednesday, which was similar to highs posted the previous three days.

"It's got a deep overflow at the shores and a softening wet surface throughout the length of the road," she said.

The road is closing five days earlier than last year and eight days earlier than the 10-year average from 1998 to 2008. The road closed on April 13 last year and on April 11 in 2008.

"It's a little bit earlier than past years," she said.

As for the ice crossing at the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence, Munro said the crossing is still open, but anything could happen over the next few days.

"As of right now I haven't heard a word otherwise, but things could change," she said.

Munro said barriers will be going up before noon to stop people from driving onto the road.