Minnesota DNR Warning of Unsafe Ice Conditions

It might seem obvious, but this reminder is just in case it doesn't. Safe ice conditions are severely compromised due to the abnormally warm weather in Minnesota.

Our unseasonably warm weather is especially detrimental to ice on backyard ponds and smaller bodies of water, which are often found in neighborhoods.

At least eight children under the age of 10 have died in the past 25 years in Minnesota after falling through backyard ice.

Across southern Minnesota, law enforcement official's warnings expand beyond that, saying that many bodies of water in our area have expansive areas of thin ice, or even open water.

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The Minnesota DNR says, children are at a much higher risk because they do not understand the danger and might not even know that they are walking on ice when they are playing near a frozen holding pond or drainage ditch.

First and foremost, when it comes to ice thickness, safety, and predictability -- there are no guarantees. They keys to safety are awareness, knowledge, preparedness, and the ability to react calmly & effectively in case things go bad.

Remember, temperature, snow cover, currents, springs and rough fish all affect the relative safety of ice. Ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water; it can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away. Check the ice at least every 150 feet.

White ice or "snow ice" is only about half as strong as new clear ice. Double the above thickness guidelines when traveling on white ice.

The Minnesota DNR offers several other after guidelines related to traveling on ice, having a survival plan, ice water rescues, escaping from a vehicle, and helping someone who has broken through. That information and more can be accessed HERE.