Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Coast Guard: Warmup could make frozen Lake Michigan and waterways dangerous

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CHICAGO (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard is warning people to stay off of ice-covered lakes and waterways as temperatures begin to rise.

Temperatures are forecast to climb above freezing beginning this weekend, perhaps hitting 50 degrees by the middle of next week.

Officials say many inland waterways, as well as stretches along the Lake Michigan shoreline, froze during the recent extreme cold. But the ice will quickly become weak and unpredictable.

Ice thickness can vary, and water currents and obstructions such as rocks, vegetation and pilings can make ice thinner.

The Coast Guard says people also should beware of layers of ice that may have formed on piers, jetties, rocks, walkways and jogging paths. They also should keep dogs on a leash to prevent them from falling or jumping into the water.

 

Posted 3/6/2015