(photo: Cass County Minn. Sheriff's Office)
ST. PAUL, Minn. – With all the recent snow and rain in Minnesota, ice conditions could vary on lakes and rivers across the state.
“It adds a lot of weight on top of the ice and so, if people are going out on a lake that’s covered in snow they need to remember that it’s not going to support as much bodyweight gear or equipment,” The DNR’s Nicole Biage said.
A vehicle went through the ice on Leech Lake in Minnesota Friday morning. The 19-year-old driver from Buffalo, Minnesota was able to escape without injury.
Biage said to check ice thickness often.
“When measuring that ice, make sure to measure just the good ice underneath the snow, and not that snow and slush that might be refrozen on top.
DNR ice thickness recommendations –
- 4″ – Ice fishing or other activities on foot
- 5-7″ – Snowmobile or small ATV
- 7–8” – Side-by-side ATV
- 9–10” – Small car or SUV
- 11-12” – Medium SUV or small truck
- 13” – Medium truck
- 16-17” – Heavy-duty truck
- 20”+ – Heavy-duty truck with wheelhouse shelter
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