(Wahpeton)– The frigid weather has most ponds and lakes in the region locked in ice. There’s still one exception though–the middle of West Lake Okoboji was still ice-free as of late Monday. Large clouds of steam could be seen coming from the open water.
All of the other lakes in the Iowa Great Lakes Chain do have ice on them…but Gary Owen of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says by no means is it safe.
He says when the lakes first freeze is when the ice conditions are most dangerous.
As a rule of thumb, Owen says atleast two inches of good clear ice is needed to support foot traffic; a good foot is needed to support a vehicle. Complicating matters, Owen says, is the fact the ice is covered with a blanket of snow, which acts as insulation. He says it makes conditions that much more dangerous.
Owen says ice thickness should gradually improve though as the extremely cold weather continues.
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