CONNECTICUT, USA — This week has brought the first real cold snap of the winter, but the ice isn't safe in most parts of the state yet.
"Unfortunately with these weird freeze and thaw cycles, it might not be full thickness," Eric Munsell, Deputy Chief of Training for the West Hartford Fire Department said at this point, there's not much in the area that's completely thick throughout the entire body of water.
We are coming off the warmest December on record. Temperatures so far this January have been five degrees warmer than average.
Even with the chill we are in now, the ice may be slow to build in spots.
Before heading out, you must test the thickness. Some guidelines:
- 4 inches or less: Keep off.
- At least 4 inches thick: Safe for walking and ice fishing.
- 5 to 7 inches thick: Safe for snowmobiles or ATVs.
- 8 to 12 inches thick: Safe for cars and small SUVs, but remember in Connecticut, it is illegal to drive a car or truck on the ice.
"Don’t be complacent, you can still get into trouble too just because you think it’s thick or it looks thick. There are some pockets sometimes where there’s moving water you don’t see," Munsell added.
If chasing after a pet or if you see an animal stuck on the ice, don't run after them.
"Call us to give you a hand if an animal goes out there, don’t go chasing them. It’s definitely a potential risk," Munsell said.
Ryan Breton is a meteorologist at FOX61 News. He can be reached at rbreton@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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