Earlier this week, a man and his dog had to be rescued after the man drove his truck onto the ice at Galesburg, Illinois’ Lake Storey. Thankfully, both we...
Earlier this week, a man and his dog had to be rescued after the man drove his truck onto the ice at Galesburg, Illinois' Lake Storey. Thankfully, both were rescued and are okay, however the truck was totaled.
It's a lesson we all should learn. Just because it's been frigid over the past few weeks, that doesn't necessarily mean the ice is thick enough to go out on.
According to the Department of Natural Resources, 12-15 inches of solid ice is needed to safely drive a truck onto a lake or pond. 8-12 inches is needed for normal passenger vehicles. For snowmobiling, a minimum of 5 inches is recommended. And finally, for anyone walking or ice-fishing, 4 inches is what is needed to make the ice safe.
How thick does ice need to be to make it safe to walk on?
And it's easy to remember:
4" to walk
8" to drive
This trick is only good for non-moving water. Rivers, creeks, and streams are never safe to walk on and there's no way to accurately measure the thickness of ice because it can vary due to water currents.
-Meteorologist Eric Sorensen
FAQs
4 inches: Walking, ice fishing, ice skating, or other activities on foot are permitted. 5 to 7 inches: Snowmobiling or riding ATVs are safe. 8 to 12 inches: Driving a car or small pickup is allowed. 12 to 15 inches: Driving a medium-sized truck is safe.
How thick of ice is safe to walk on? ›
As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength. Clear blue or black ice is the strongest.
Can you walk on 1 inch of ice? ›
These guidelines for thickness can help determine the safeness of the ice. o Less than 3 inches- KEEP OFF! o 4 inches- Suitable for a person to ice fish and walk on.
Can you walk on 2 inch ice? ›
General Ice Thickness Guidelines
Depending on the thickness of the ice, there may be limitations on what you can do on its surface. 2 inches thick The ice is very susceptible to breakage and is not safe to walk on. 4 inches thick It should be ok to stand, skate, and ice fish on the surface.
How long until ice is safe to walk on? ›
Four inches of clear, newly-formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially-thawed ice may not. Ice seldom freezes uniformly. It may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two just a few feet away. Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often dangerous.
What is the thinnest ice you can walk on? ›
What is Considered Thin Ice?
- 2 inches thick or less should be avoided completely.
- 4 inches or more is considered safe for ice fishing or other activities on foot.
- 5 inches is recommended for snowmobiles or ATVs.
- 8 to 12 inches is necessary for a small car.
- 12 to 15 inches of ice is necessary for trucks.
Less than 4 inches: Stay off the ice. 4 inches: Walking, ice fishing, ice skating, or other activities on foot are permitted. 5 to 7 inches: Snowmobiling or riding ATVs are safe. 8 to 12 inches: Driving a car or small pickup is allowed.
How many pounds can 4 inches of ice hold? ›
Ice thickness guidelines by weight
| Ice Depth (in.) | Max Weight (lbs) |
|---|
| 4” | 800 |
| 5” | 1,250 |
| 6” | 1,800 |
| 7” | 2,450 |
13 more rowsGenerally accepted minimum of five inches of ice is recommended for safe enjoyment of ice skating, ice fishing, ice boating, snowkiting and snowmobiling on lakes. However, even if the ice is several inches thick, variations in ice thickness is common and ice-covered water is never completely safe.
How thick is ice on ice road truckers? ›
Open only 8–10 weeks of the year, the ice road is open from mid-January to March. It has to be rebuilt each year. Work on the road starts soon after Christmas. When the ice is 1 meter (42 inches) thick, it can support a truck fully loaded with over 40 metric tons (44 tons) of fuel.
Ice is not considered safe to walk on until it is at least four inches thick. At that thickness, it is suitable for ice fishing, cross country skiing, and walking, and can support about 200 pounds. At five inches, it should be enough to hold a single snowmobile or ATV or about 800 pounds.
What is the safest way to walk on ice? ›
Learn how to Walk Like a Penguin (video)—walk slowly, take small steps, and point your toes out slightly to be more stable on icy paths. Keep your head up and don't lean forward. Keep your hands out of your pockets to help keep your balance. If you use a cane, you can buy an ice pick for the cane.
How much weight can 2 inches of ice hold? ›
Safe loads vs. thickness for clear and solid ice.
| Thickness of Ice | Load or Activity |
|---|
| in | cm |
|---|
| 2 | 5 | One person on foot or skates |
| 4 | 7.5 | Snowmobile or smaller ATV, groups of people walking in a single line |
| 7 | 17.5 | A small car |
5 more rows8”-12” is the minimum for cars or small trucks. Generally accepted minimum of five inches of ice is recommended for safe enjoyment of ice skating, ice fishing, ice boating, snowkiting and snowmobiling on lakes.
How much weight can 12 inches of ice hold? ›
Ice thickness guidelines by weight
| Ice Depth (in.) | Max Weight (lbs) |
|---|
| 12” | 7,200 |
| 13” | 8,450 |
| 14” | 9,800 |
| 15” | 11,250 |
13 more rowsIf you are walking on ice that is too thin to hold your weight, you run the risk of breaking the ice. It may hold for a while but, unless you are extremely lucky, sooner or later it will break and you will fall into the freezing cold water.
How do you break up thick ice on a sidewalk? ›
In a bucket, combine a half-gallon of hot water, about six drops of dish soap, and ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol. Once you pour the homemade ice melt mixture onto your sidewalk or driveway, the snow and ice will begin to bubble up and melt. Just keep a shovel handy to scrape away any leftover pieces of ice.
