Most of the ice on Frobisher Bay should be melted out by early July, says a forecaster with the Canadian Ice Service, as this year's melt in the Eastern Arctic is weeks ahead of schedule.

"The ice on the Northern Baffin Bay opened up earlier in May, maybe four or five weeks earlier than normal," said Jason Ross, a ice forecaster with the Canadian Ice Service.

"Elsewhere in the Arctic — Hudson Bay, Davis Strait and Labrador area — ice melted one to two weeks ahead of normal at this time."

Last year an unusual southeasterly wind kept ice jammed in Frobisher Bay until August. Ross said that is unlikely to happen again this year.

"By the first and second week of July most of the ice on Frobisher Bay should be melted out," he said.

Icebreakers on their way

Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers are already headed north to help break up ice and escort cargo ships into northern communities.

Isabelle Pelchat, superintendent of the icebreaking program, said the CCGS Pierre Radisson left Wednesday morning from Quebec City and is expected to arrive at Iqaluit by the first week of July.

It's one of seven icebreakers that will be operating in the Arctic this summer with most of those ships heading out in July.

The CCGS Amundsen, which is tasked with scientific missions, left Quebec earlier this month, while the CCGS Terry Fox is scheduled to depart on June 25 for the Hudson Strait.

"The first task will be ice reconnaissance for sure and to break out the ice," said Pelchat.

"The commercial shipping should start on the second week of July, according to the schedule we received from commercial companies."