How do you know if a frozen lake is safe?

Water currents, wind, and snow coverage will also make a difference in the integrity of the frozen surface. So once the weather and temperatures stabilize after several weeks, you can venture onto the ice and inspect its thickness. Ice is not considered safe to walk on until it is at least four inches thick.



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Ice may form quickly when temperatures tumble, but it takes more time than you might think for ice to reach the four-inch thickness that experts recommend. On average, it takes four days of below freezing temperatures to form ice that is safe. Also, this guideline is for ponds and lakes.

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DNR says to stay off any ice less than four inches thick. Four inches of clear blue ice are OK for ice fishing or other activities on foot, five to seven inches for snowmobiles and ATVS, eight to twelve inches for a car or small pickup, and twelve to fifteen inches for a medium truck.

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In water that is around the freezing point, a person is likely to survive only 15 to 45 minutes with flotation and possibly up to an hour or so with flotation and protective gear before the brain and heart stop (Table 1). The surface temperature of Lake Superior in early to mid-summer is about 40 to 50 F.

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While ice fishing is the most common activity we see on frozen waters in Minnesota, that is not the only way to explore our frozen lakes on foot. Many Minnesotans enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, iceboating, windsurfing, and kiteboarding among other activities on the ice.

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Do not attempt to cross this ice. Watch for rivulets flowing on the ice or streams flowing under it. Even when the surface looks solid, a current under the ice causes erosion from below.

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Lake ice freezes first at the surface starting at the edges or shoreline for two reasons. Water near the shore is typically shallower and contains less heat than deeper water so it can reach the freezing point faster than deeper water.

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Do fish die in frozen lakes or in lakes that are partially frozen? Since fish are cold-blooded animals, they can survive because they are able to regulate their body temperature to match their environment. However, they could die if a body of water freezes over completely and remains frozen for an extended period.

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The sudden shock of the cold water can quickly impact your breathing, your heart rate and your blood pressure enough so that it can be life-threatening. You are then at a greater risk of drowning.

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