Where is ice thinnest?

Avoid ice over the fastest current of moving water. Spots where streams enter and leave lakes are notorious for thin ice. Springs bringing water into a lake may create a thin spot that the locals should know about. Wind-scoured ice tends to be weaker than sheltered ice.



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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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Most lakes and ponds don't completely freeze because the ice (and eventually snow) on the surface acts to insulate the water below. Our winters aren't long or cold enough to completely freeze most local water bodies. This process of lakes turning over is crtically important to the life in the lake.

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