I'm trying to decide whether to flood today or wait until Saturday. Temps here are forecast to be:

Today (Wed): 3C
Tonight: -2C
Thursday: -4C
Friday: -2C high, -6C low
Sat: 4C high, 1C low
Sun: -3C / -9C
Mon: -6C / -10C

This is my first rink, small backyard, very little sun exposure.
Do I risk it and flood now?
Concerned about Sat's temps but it drops off after that.

If you are using a liner, I don't think there is any risk to flooding now....not sure what the 10-day forecast looks like, but I would flood now....am a rink-rookie (who is having an insane amount of fun so far with the skating) but that would be my advice...work case is that it melts a little before freezing again...

Good Luck!

Does it need to be flooded? Like, are there skate marks or other imperfections you want to take care of? I don't speak Canadian (hah), but I can't see any reasons why those temps would sway me for or against flooding. Looks nice and cold. So the question is if your ice needs it. If it does, go nuts. What would you be "risking" by flooding?

Bobby,

Are we talking flooding as in resurface or flooding as in filling?

My rule of thumb is to resurface when it is between -5'C and -15'C (23'F and 5'F) as this usually allows you to put on a couple of coats in an evening. I find that anything below -15'C freezes way too fast and makes brittle ice. You can get away with flooding between -1'C and -4'C but only one coat and let it sit overnight before trying to skate on it.

For your upcoming forecast, I would flood once on the following days:

Tonight: -2C => light coat
Thursday: -4C => might be able to get in 2 coats but it will be a couple of hours between floods
Friday: -6C => definitely squeeze in a flood or two
Sat: 1C low => no point in flooding
Sun: -3C / -9C => Yes sir and you better be skating!
Mon: -6C / -10C => Yes sir and you better be skating!

Hope this helps
Kevin

Flood man flood, the temps have been a lot colder than you posted. Tonight it's -13c. You. Already missed 2 good cold days. We have beautiful black clear ice on our pond, were just waiting for it to thicken from 3 to 4 inches then it'll e safe enough yo go out and flood actively!!

Bobby here,
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was just filling for the first time. I did it today and the temp is still 7C so I have a pool in my yard for the night as it isn't supposed to be below zero until morning. It should be nice and cold for the week though.
Looking forward to skating.
Thanks