Lac Seul Feb 2020 - Adam Riley
The recent blast of winter weather for the region might have sparked the urge for some to venture out onto area lakes and streams but officials with the Ontario Provincial Police are asking people to hold off.
There have been no incidents reported so far this year but the O-P-P is reminding residents that it is still a little too early to be venturing out onto the ice on any lake or river.
“We do understand that a lot of people are excited to get out on the ice,” says spokesperson Autumn Eadie, “However it is a little too early to venture out and you can increase your risk of falling through the ice.”
Eadie notes says there are many factors that can influence ice thickness, such as water type, location and other environmental factors.
In a stable winter environment minimum ice thickness for walking or ice fishing is four inches, a snowmobile requires five to seven inches, 8 to 12 inches for a single car or group of people and 12 to 15 inches for a medium sized truck or S-U-V.
But certain visual cues, according to Eadie, can help you determine ice thickness.
“The strongest ice can be recognized by its bluish or greenish hue with no air bubbles, whereas a snow covered, white covered ice if you will, is a little bit more less sturdy.”
If white, snow covered ice is encountered Eadie says to double the ice thickness recommendations.
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