A sign of spring? The Loop closes in Bannerman Park

Warming surface temperatures have prompted the City of St. John's to close the Loop, the skating rink at Bannerman Park that is finishing its debut season.

The rink was temporarily closed as of Friday, although it's not known if it will be able to reopen before next fall.

The skating rink has proven to be a popular attraction through the winter, and was originally slated to stay open up to 10 C.

Coun. Jonathan Galgay said surface temperatures — not air temperatures, which in recent days have been only a few degrees above zero — affect ice conditions most.

Galgay said monitoring through last week shows that surface temperatures on the ground were hitting 20 C.

That change made for soft spots on the ice and for unsafe conditions for skaters.