KNOW YOUR ICE!

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KNOW YOUR ICE!

Copyright 2016 by Lori-Ann Willey

TEACH THIS TO YOUR KIDS.  

It could save their lives.

NEVER ASSUME THAT ICE IS SAFE 

Even if there are people on it.

KNOW THE BODY OF WATER

Know the location of inlets, outlets, and channels.

NEVER trust the ice thickness MEASURED BY OTHERS

unless you personally watch them measure.  

Ice thickness can vary GREATLY WITHIN A FEW FEET.

Know that salt water freezes at about 28 degrees

Salt keeps water molecules from bonding together to form ice, thus it freezes more slowly.

FLUCTUATING WATER LEVELS

Bodies of water with fluctuating water levels (hydro dams, pump stations, etc.) keep the ice in motion. Rising and lowering over rocks, stumps.  Along the shorelines are often slushy and not safe.  

RIVERS & STREAMS

Have moving water, thus are slower to freeze and ice is NEVER dependable from hour to hour, day to day.  Expect THIN ice, always.

KNOW that rocks, logs, stumps, and even docks absorb heat

Therefore, ice will be thinner around them.

KNOW YOUR ICE/SNOW COLORS

Clear Ice (“Black Ice”) is the strongest. Some people call it "Blue Ice".

Gray or Yellowish Ice / Snow means water is present. (Slushy)

White Ice means frozen snow/slush and is about ½ the strength of black ice.   

REMEMBER

Snow is white due to the presence of air.  That means air gaps.  Gaps mean not solid.  This is why when you walk on snow, it crunches or squeaks.  You are compressing the ice crystals (flakes), and you are actually hearing the snowflakes break under your feet.  

REMEMBER, TOO
Know also, that snow is a great insulator. It will insulate the ice and keep it from getting thicker. A lot of people, even Mainers, think that because the ice holds that much snow, means that it'll hold people, snowmobiles, cars, trucks, too. That is not always the case. Remember, white means air ...air is light.

TEACH THIS TO YOUR KIDS.  

It could save their lives.