Northeast Nebraska ice rink is keeping its doors open despite warmer weather

NORFOLK, Neb.— Warmer weather is bringing caution to a northeast Nebraska ice rink.

Even in late December, temperatures are reaching the mid-40s, causing snow and ice to melt.

While the warmer weather helps make roads and driveways safer, it’s not ideal for the ice rink in Norfolk, which needs colder temperatures to stay open.

“The ice can start to melt, more than it should, and then we get divots in the ice or it starts getting too wet,” Rink lead Maddi Pick said.

The ice rink at Johnson Park is used as a basketball court during the summer. In the winter, it becomes a place where people of all ages can come to skate.

With temperatures warmer than average in Norfolk, staff have to watch the weather closely.

“Under the ice and kind of in the back in the fence, we have a system that helps keep the ice cold,” Pick said. “So it's just a bunch of chillers that'll help keep it cold. And it can keep the ice frozen until the air gets to about like 55 degrees. Then we start really looking at it, but we're always like looking at the weather and making sure everything's running good.”

The rink is open during winter break from 1 to 9 p.m. through January 2. After that, hours will change to 4 to 9 p.m.