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.