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SeaDog1
Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 2629
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 Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:34 pm Post subject: Danger of Heavy Snow on Ice. |
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Hi,
The following is excerpts from the NISDI and Minnesota DNR sites.
Heavy Snow on ice causes the ice shelf to bend and crack !
Water comes up to form "Real SLUSH" under the snow.
"Real SLUSH" occurs regardless of air temperature and does NOT and will NEVER occur from melting snow.
"Slushy Conditions" occurs from melting snow on top of ice.
Unfortunately -> Water from melting snow can percolate down thru the ice and weaken it !
Above the cracks, in the bent ice, will form an anomoly known as an "Air Hole".
"VERY DAGEROUS" and can be small or as much as 30 feet across and thin at the edges.
Stay Safe 
SeaDog1 |
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androux
Joined: 18 Dec 2012
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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I fish a lake in WNY and it will do this, fished there twice, both times, it was 3 inches crusty snow, and inch of water, slush and about 12" of ice underneath. The whole stratum is about 18" of water at different freezing states, but you would find wide open holes at odd places. The holes wouldn't be big, almost like an auger hole, but there really wasn't much around the holes to indicate any ice depth, due to the snow cover. Sorta disconcerting as you walk out and see a random open hole when it's 20 deg.
Snowmobilers keep a keen eye on this, and they know the lakes that this happens to. Walking is one thing, but doing 50 mph and hitting a weak spot is a quick death at best. They know this and avoid those lakes, so don't always sneer at the sleds.
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damage inc
Joined: 12 Feb 2011
Posts: 267
Location: New Fairfield
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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cool post but I wonder if that is when the temp gets above 32 degrees?
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pikePERSUADER1
Joined: 07 Dec 2010
Posts: 521
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:03 am Post subject: |
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| damage inc wrote: | | cool post but I wonder if that is when the temp gets above 32 degrees? |
No, the ice does this even when it's really cold, BE CAREFUL, If we had really cold temps this week it would refreeze all that stuff, but we dont, so be really careful, I would stick to places that had thicker ice, especially after the warm rain tomorrow! -Dan |
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SeaDog1
Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 2629
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:18 am Post subject: |
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| pikePERSUADER1 wrote: | | damage inc wrote: | | cool post but I wonder if that is when the temp gets above 32 degrees? |
No, the ice does this even when it's really cold, BE CAREFUL, If we had really cold temps this week it would refreeze all that stuff, but we dont, so be really careful, I would stick to places that had thicker ice, especially after the warm rain tomorrow! -Dan |
 Absolutely correct Dan !
SeaDog1 |
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babycubcatcher
Joined: 19 Mar 2008
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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| No doubt this can happen and if you shoveled yesterday, you know this snow has some heft. That being said, I went out yesterday on 8-10 inches of ice with 1-2 ft drifts and there was no slush anywhere under the snow. once you drilled some water was forced up through your hole and that made slush, but i wouldn't worry too much until the warm up happens. I did decide against going to a lake with only 6 or so inches and more snow, but out here in the NW corner, we only got like 1 foot and many places have 8+ inches. |
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icefishingnewbie
Joined: 18 Dec 2011
Posts: 275
Location: Haddam, CT
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I am planning on hitting a pond tuesday that has 5-8 inches of ice and 2-3 feet of snow do you think it will be ok? or will i fall through |
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SeaDog1
Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 2629
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| icefishingnewbie wrote: | | I am planning on hitting a pond tuesday that has 5-8 inches of ice and 2-3 feet of snow do you think it will be ok? or will i fall through |
Now that's a really dumb question
No one and I mean No one can give you an answer to that !
No one has any idea what the heavy snow may have done to the ice !
What was ....was -> What it is now is UNKNOWN
And maybe even worst once the rain comes !
Use some common sense -> Go with a buddy and check that ice every few feet and I mean the ice below the slush !
Cheech ! 
Thought you proclaimed you where an ice expert ! |
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old perch
Joined: 12 Jan 2013
Posts: 15
Location: Bethlehem
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| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:41 am Post subject: |
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Good reminder.
Thanks for posting! |
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SeaDog1
Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 2629
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| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:19 am Post subject: Re: Danger of Heavy Snow on Ice. |
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Re-posting the following !
| SeaDog1 wrote: | Hi,
The following is excerpts from the NISDI and Minnesota DNR sites.
Heavy Snow on ice causes the ice shelf to bend and crack !
Water comes up to form "Real SLUSH" under the snow.
"Real SLUSH" occurs regardless of air temperature and does NOT and will NEVER occur from melting snow.
"Slushy Conditions" occurs from melting snow on top of ice.
Unfortunately -> Water from melting snow can percolate down thru the ice and weaken it !
Above the cracks, in the bent ice, will form an anomoly known as an "Air Hole".
"VERY DAGEROUS" and can be small or as much as 30 feet across and thin at the edges.
Stay Safe
SeaDog1 |
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damage inc
Joined: 12 Feb 2011
Posts: 267
Location: New Fairfield
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| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:16 am Post subject: |
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We have 10"-12" of ice on most of the bodies of water in western ct. Do you really thing 18" of snow is enough to give us problems. Been out there with similar amounts and did not have an issue. I'm glad your helping us be aware of this but I think they are talking about "Buffalo snow" like 3'-7' clips!
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damage inc
Joined: 12 Feb 2011
Posts: 267
Location: New Fairfield
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| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:18 am Post subject: |
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Ps I'm not being a wise ass. I wast to be as safe as everyone else out there and I'm glad you shared this valuable information.
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SeaDog1
Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 2629
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| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:27 am Post subject: |
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| damage inc wrote: | | We have 10"-12" of ice on most of the bodies of water in western ct. Do you really thing 18" of snow is enough to give us problems. Been out there with similar amounts and did not have an issue. I'm glad your helping us be aware of this but I think they are talking about "Buffalo snow" like 3'-7' clips! |
Hi,
The answer to your question is "YES" ....the danger can exist !
"Ice, as is well known, does not form uniformly, anywhere !"
Example is West Hill Pond which has many underwater springs, which can cause thin spots.
Bottom line -> better to know then be ignorant of such dangers that can exist ! |
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damage inc
Joined: 12 Feb 2011
Posts: 267
Location: New Fairfield
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| Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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Went out on Putnam Lake in New York (right over the New. Fairfield /NY border) about a 1/2 mile from ball pond. The ice had a good 8" of snow on it. Wherever I walked there was slush on the ice. There was a good 12" of ice under the snow/slush. But you can tell the weight was present. That's why there was so much slush. I wonder what the cold single diget/teens will do to all of this "crap" overnight? Any thoughts? Going to Bantam for the Pike tournament tomorrow morning early!
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Egriffin1970
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
Posts: 57
Location: Danbury, CT
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| damage inc wrote: | | Went out on Putnam Lake in New York (right over the New. Fairfield /NY border) about a 1/2 mile from ball pond. The ice had a good 8" of snow on it. Wherever I walked there was slush on the ice. There was a good 12" of ice under the snow/slush. But you can tell the weight was present. That's why there was so much slush. I wonder what the cold single diget/teens will do to all of this "crap" overnight? Any thoughts? Going to Bantam for the Pike tournament tomorrow morning early! |
I am figuring it will be a mess for a time until we get a good freeze again and it makes it hard white ice. The weather says that should happen after next weekend, looks like a big temp drop again. I hate this crap , I had the quad on our lake all week (peach) and now not sure if it's to messy to use.
On fishing, how is Put lake treating guys lately ? |
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