An extremely warm start to winter across the northern tier of the country means ice is thinner than normal
BEMIDJI, Minn. – Authorities were working Friday evening to develop a plan to rescue nearly 100 people who were stranded on a piece of ice that was afloat on a lake in northern Minnesota.
A public information officer with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened on Upper Red Lake, which is more than a three-hour drive from Duluth.
Typically, the lake is one of the premiere sites for ice fishing, but a warm start to winter has meant the top layer of ice is thinner than usual and more susceptible to winds.
The lake has been the site of numerous rescues in the past month, including 35 people who were pulled from an ice floe on Dec. 17.
The PIO said deputies have not received any reports of missing people or people who have fallen into the chilly water.
It is also unknown how long the rescue operation will take, and the next update from officials could come Saturday.
THIN ICE: LAKES BEAR IMPACTS FROM WARM WEATHER
Problematic ice
The problem with thin ice was not a surprise to the FOX Forecast Center, which warned earlier this month that extreme warmth would have dangerous side effects.
Dozens of rescues have taken place in the northern tier of the country as abnormally warm temperatures in December have prevented thick layers of ice from forming on lakes.
Outdoor experts advise people to never venture out on ice of unknown thickness.
At least 4 inches of ice is needed to support a human’s weight sufficiently, and at least eight inches is recommended before attempting to drive a small-sized vehicle on it.
Ice coverage tends to peak between mid-February and March as temperatures start to rebound into the spring.
If ice is below 4″ in depth it is advised you stay off.
(National Weather Service / FOX Weather)
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