The frequency of frozen lakes and when it is safe to be on them
As colder weather becomes more frequent as we enter the winter season, ponds and lakes may start to freeze over. There have already been several events in Central Missouri where a body of water has frozen over, but it was not enough to allow for people or animals to safely stand on it. This has led to rescues from these "frozen" bodies of water, and poses the question: how often is it actually safe to be on a frozen lake or other body of water during the winter season in Missouri?
The general rule of thumb is that the ice needs to be 4 inches thick to stand on. Many factors must come together for this to occur, so the frequency of this is relatively low. Gale Blomenkamp, the Support Services Bureau Director of the Boone County Fire Protection District, states that, "The one thing about Missouri is really no ice is safe. We go through what is called a freeze-thaw cycle here in Missouri. Once in a while, we'll get a string of 1 or 2 weeks of zero or subzero temperatures that makes very solid ice, and it's very safe at that point. It doesn't happen often here in Missouri."
Since it is common for temperatures to warm above freezing during the afternoon hours in Missouri, ice will often appear cloudy or milky. This means that air pockets are forming and melting is occurring, which can significantly reduce the strength of that ice. If these characteristics are not observed before stepping out on the ice, emergencies can occur that require help from falling through.
In these situations, Gale Blomenkamp states that, "If you see somebody go through the ice or even a companion animal go through the ice, never try to go out there and rescue them yourselves. If they've already gone through, that means the ice is weak. So immediately call 911. Let the professionals come and help. If you can reach them or throw something to them to help them, that's great, but never venture out there until you call 911 and let the fire department come and do that."
An ice rescue for a pet in Hallsville is one of these more recent events, and Gale advises that keeping your pet on a leash is the best way to avoid this. If it does occur, follow the same procedure and let the professionals help out.
For ideal conditions to actually get out on the ice and not worry about your safety, deep freezes are needed for prolonged periods of time. This minimizes melting and maximizes the time needed to increase the overall depth of the ice. At least two weeks of this deep freeze are typically needed, and announcements will be made from organizations when this criterion is met. If you do not see these announcements or know that temperatures have still been varying between above and below freezing, it is best to stay off the ice.
