Minnesota officials warn of dangerous thin ice across the state
MINNEAPOLIS – The cold temperatures are causing many of Minnesota's lakes and ponds to freeze.
But the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says that ice, and the water underneath, could be very dangerous.
Alex Her and his friends love visiting frozen lakes, sliding rocks across for the noise - but keeping off the ice.
"So it has to be really thick ice to just go and chill on it and it makes it more safe that way," Her said. "But if it's like this, then it's very dangerous because the ice is not fully solid yet."
And that's the message the DNR wants every Minnesotan to hear as the temperatures jump above and below freezing.
"The ice is just starting to form here and around the state. Ice conditions do vary around the state and it's really not safe to walk anywhere on the ice yet," said DNR Ice Safety Coordinator Nicole Biagi.
But on Monday, a WCCO photographer spotted this family in a potentially precarious position out on the ice at Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis. Biagi says it doesn't take long or much for standing on ice to turn deadly, especially during this time of the year.
"If people fall through the ice, their first reaction because of the cold water will be to gasp, and that gasp can cause people to drown immediately," she said. "If they don't drown, if they're wearing a life jacket, they have a very short amount of time to get out of the water before they may die of hypothermia."
But even when the ice thickens, the DNR says ice is never 100% safe. It's an important lesson they say parents should teach their children, especially since they'll be out of school this week for the holiday.
"Kids are naturally curious about the ice and so it's really important that parents or adults in their life talk to them about the risks of ice and let them know that ice is never safe," Biagi said. "And that if they do wanna go out on the ice, they need to be with their parent. And we remind parents that if your kid is near the ice, you should be near your kid."
The DNR says even when ice is thicker, that doesn't mean it's safe to walk on. Other factors like temperature, snow cover, water currents and how big the lake or pond is all play a part.
The DNR also offered the following tips for Minnesotans in order to stay safe:
- Wearing a foam life jacket or flotation suit.
- Not going out alone—and letting someone know about trip plans and expected return time.
- Carrying ice picks, rope, an ice chisel and tape measure.
- Checking ice thickness at regular intervals; conditions can change quickly.
- Bringing a cell phone or personal locator beacon.
- Inquiring about conditions and known hazards with local experts before heading out.
