Spring icebreaking on St. Lawrence River between Montréal and Québec City

February 19, 2026 – Québec, Quebec – National Defence / Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard’s spring icebreaking operations on the St. Lawrence River between Montréal and Québec City will start on Saturday, February 21, 2026. All equipment and material currently on the ice must be moved ashore as soon as possible.

Icebreaking dates are subject to change without notice and may start earlier due to warmer weather, which causes ice by the shore to break up faster. Icebreaking will then continue on several streams, rivers, and river mouths in Quebec.

Annual operations on the St. Lawrence River, including those near Lac-Saint-Pierre, are designed to break ice into smaller pieces, preventing large blocks of ice from drifting and blocking navigation channels. Icebreaking operations on smaller rivers help clear ice from water entrances to prevent ice jams and flooding that may occur during the spring thaw.

This type of icebreaking is carried out by the Canadian Coast Guard’s air cushion vehicles, also known as hovercrafts, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Mamilossa or the CCGS Sipu Muin. People in the area may hear loud noises similar to an aircraft, which are the hovercrafts’ engines.

The Canadian Coast Guard asks to the public to review the following ice safety tips. It is always dangerous to be on the ice when icebreakers, hovercrafts, or any other vessels are in the area. Ice movement can occur and put anyone in the area in danger, even long after the vessel has left.