Introduction
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A child and an adult died after falling through ice in separate incidents over the weekend in the metro area.
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No ice is 100% safe.
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers safety tips for ice activities.
Minneapolis (Fox 9) – Warming weather is raising concerns about snow and ice safety after a miserable weekend across the metropolitan area.
As the weather gets warmer, ice safety issues become increasingly prominent
what we know
A boy died after falling into a pond in Bloomington on Saturday. A man died after falling through ice on the Mississippi River near the University of Minnesota on Friday. In both cases, rescue teams worked tirelessly to find the victims.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office reported that the man fell while walking on the ice and a woman tried to rescue him but also fell. She managed to make it back to shore, but sonar did not find the man’s body until Saturday afternoon.
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at Bass Pond where a man and boy had fallen into the water. The man was rescued, but the boy’s body was later found in about eight feet of water.
local perspective
FOX 9 Chief Meteorologist Ian Leonard explained the ice may look safe.
“When you see fresh, completely clear ice, you’re like, wow, it looks amazing,” Leonard said. “However, ice with gray or blue undertones is unsafe, especially with recent increases in temperatures and sunlight.”
Safety tips for ice activities
what can you do
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends consulting local experts about known hazards before venturing onto the ice. When driving on or under ice, breakout incidents often occur near entrances. Even within a small area, ice thickness can vary greatly.
It’s important to wear a flotation device and ice picks and go with a partner. Remember, no ice is 100% safe.
what we don’t know
Further information on the identities of the victims and the circumstances leading up to the incidents has not been released.