ICE CONDITIONS
Black Lake, Cheboygan County Lake Ice Conditions

See Ice Safety Tips Below

January 30, 2012

Ice conditions are good. There are 8 to 10 inches of ice on the lake, some snow drifts. Water clarity is relatively good but is cloudy in deeper depths. Snowmobiles and 4-wheelers are being used to get to and from shanties. Anglers are reporting catching northern pike and muskie. There have been a few walleye and some perch, but not in big numbers.

Black Lake Sturgeon season opens February 4.


This week’s weather forecast:

Today: Snow, mainly after 11am. High near 27. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight: Snow likely, possibly mixed with freezing drizzle, mainly before 7pm. Areas of fog after 10pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 24. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of rain or drizzle after 1pm. Areas of fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 43. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain before 1am, then a chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 29.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31.

Ice Safety Tips
• Avoid crossing frozen bodies of water in a single file.
• Never venture onto the ice alone or without telling your plans to a responsible adult.
• Any time you are on the ice and have not personally checked the ice thickness consider yourself in harm's way. Check the thickness of the ice with an ice spud before venturing onto the ice.
• Never Drive a Car or Truck on the ice.
• Avoid standing or walking in areas with a group of people.
• Always wear a life jacket when on the frozen surface of a lake or river.
• Carry a pair of ice picks. These are designed for a self rescue and are two handles with a nail device in one end attached to each other by a length of rope.
• Look for large cracks or depressions in the ice.
• Learn and practice rescue techniques by using ropes, boats, ladders, etc.
• Ice does not form with uniform thickness on any body of water. Underwater springs or currents can wear thin spots on any body of water.
• Clear ice is the strongest. Ice formed by melted and refrozen snow appears milky, is very porous and very weak. Ice covered by snow should always be presumed unsafe.
• Four inches of ice will generally hold an average-sized person on foot. Snowmobiles and ORVs need at least eight inches of solid, consistent ice.
• Always check forecast and know Ice Conditions


How to survive falling through ice
• DON'T PANIC! This is probably the most important thing to remember on the ice; panic causes you to lose focus.
• Leave all your layers on. While it seems that heavy winter clothing would weigh you down, it actually traps air and makes you more buoyant.
• Turn around and face the direction you were coming from. This area supported your weight already; it's better to go in a direction you know will hold you than to try an unknown.
• Lay your hands flat on the unbroken ice. Use ice picks if you have them. If not, use anything that can give you a bite into the ice - screwdrivers or knives, for example.
• Kick and pull to work your way back onto the ice. If your clothing is soaked with water, you may have to pause halfway out to let your clothing drain.
• Once you are out of the water, lay flat on the ice. DO NOT STAND! Laying flat will spread your weight out over the ice and help support you.
• Roll away from the hole. This is the best way to keep your weight spread out.
• Get to shelter quickly! Once in a warm, dry shelter, follow the steps to treat yourself for hypothermia. Strip your wet clothing off and begin to warm up. Cold, wet clothing will speed the onset of hypothermia more than anything else.