Ice formation hampered by snow

Borderland received more inches of snow than is normal for December, which is hampering winter activities such as snowmobiling and ice fishing.

International Falls has received 20.9 inches of snow since Dec. 1, which is 9 inches above normal, according to Tom Lonka, assistant forecaster with the National Weather Service.

But the amount of snow is causing problems for snowmobilers and anglers wanting to drive on the ice. The snow cover is hampering the formation of ice on Rainy Lake and Voyageurs National Park staff are not recommending travel on the ice, park Ranger Dave Little said.

Snowmobile trails are staked after a minimum of 5 inches of clear ice has formed, Little said.

In bays where wind driven snow has accumulated, slush up to 10 inches in depth has been found, with thin ice below the slush.

Typically the snowmobile trail to Ash River is the first one to be opened by VNP, but staff have found insufficient ice to open the trail, Little said.

And thin ice isn’t an isolated problem on area lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported in December that thin ice had been found on lakes throughout the state because snow fell on the ice before it had a chance to thicken.

“Even though we’ve had some good cold temperatures, the recent snow that blankets much of the state insulates the ice and slows the ice thickening process,” said Tim Smalley, DNR water safety specialist. “The weight of the snow pushes down on the ice, causing water to seep from cracks. This creates a slushy mess on the ice surface.”

The above normal snowfall is a result of a La Nina pattern, which means the winter can be either more wet or more dry than normal. But the Falls is off to a good start in snowfall, Lonka said. The extra snow will help replenish the ground moisture and increase the lake levels next spring after last summer’s drought, Lonka said.

The La Nina pattern also means normal temperatures for the area this winter. Temperatures in December have averaged out to normal, Lonka said, because Borderland experienced below normal temperatures for the first half of December and above normal temperatures for the second half of the month.

The average high for December is 18 degrees and the average low for December is minus 1 degree. In December, temperatures in International Falls reached a high of 32 degrees and a low of minus 26 degrees.

What to do if someone falls through the ice

• Keep calm.

• Don’t run to the hole because you might break through.

• Use an item on shore to throw or extend to the victim to pull them out of the water.

• Call 911 and get medical assistance for the victim. People who are immersed in cold water but seem fine after being rescued can suffer a potentially fatal condition called “after drop” that occurs when cold blood that is pooled in the body’s limbs begins to circulate again as the victim starts to rewarm.

• If you fall through the ice, try not to panic. Remain calm and turn toward the direction you came from. Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface of the ice. Work forward on the ice by kicking your feet. If the ice breaks, maintain your position and slide forward again. Once you are lying on the ice, don’t stand. Instead, roll away from the hole because that spreads out your weight until you are on solid ice.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources