After Monday’s very cold temperatures caused parts of Lake Michigan to freeze over, first responders want to make it clear – walking on the ice poses significant danger.
“No ice is safe ice,” said Deputy District Chief Jason Lach of the Chicago Fire Department’s Marine and Dive Operations. “You can never tell how thick everything is, right? and pancake ice could be an inch in the middle and four inches on the outside, or vice versa.”
Lach explained during these frigid temperatures, pancake ice – which looks like a frozen lily pad – can be especially dangerous when people try to walk on top of it. While the formations appear solid, they are not.
“That pancake ice could be like dome-shaped, so you can step on one edge, and it can flip over on you,” he said.
This past weekend, video emerged of what appeared to be a group walking on pancake ice – and one person slipped and fell. That individual managed not to fall into the chilly water.
“You got to remember water temperature, or water freezes below 32 degrees right now,” Lach explained. “The water temperature on the surface is about 30 to 32 degrees. That puts us in harm’s way, because hypothermia can set in a matter of minutes.”
NBC Chicago crews saw some people walking on the ice on Monday afternoon at Ohio Street Beach, and it’s that behavior firefighters are trying to prevent.
Chicago police spotted those individuals and ordered them to get off the ice.
“Stay off the ice,” Lach reiterated. “There is no such thing as safe ice out there, especially lakeside. Lake Michigan only freezes over about 40 to 50% every year, even in the harbors. It’s not safe to walk on.”
Hence then, the article about pancake ice has formed on lake michigan and firefighters warn it s very dangerous here s why was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Pancake ice has formed on Lake Michigan, and firefighters warn it's very dangerous. Here's why )
Also on site :
- France to ditch American video conferencing services
- Canada to keep list of Nazi war criminals secret
- 2010s Doom Metal Band Announces Tour Before Music Festival Shows