As ice starts to form on Saskatchewan’s waterbodies, the Water Security Agency (WSA) is reminding residents about the importance of ice safety.
Before venturing out onto the ice, they encourage the public to remember that ice does not form at uniform thickness, and that its strength can vary widely from one area to another. This coupled with the fact that there is no specific time at which ice becomes safe to traverse year to year, requiring verification of thickness for maximum safety.
The WSA has some guidelines that can help determine if the ice is safe for travel, recommending a minimum of 10 cm (four inches) of ice to walk on, 20 cm (eight inches) to cross in a snowmobile or ATV, 30 cm (12 inches) for a car or light truck, and more than 30 cm for heavier vehicles and trucks.
They remind everyone that any activity on ice comes with risks and that the guidelines are in place to help individuals make an informed decision, stressing that thickness is only one of the considerations for evaluating ice safety and that clear, hard ice is the only ice recommended for travel.
Also avoid ice that:
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looks slushy.
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has thawed, then froze again.
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is near moving water.
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is layered, caused by sudden temperature changes; or
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has structures on it, such as pressure ridges.
Ice thickness can be unpredictable and difficult to assess at times. To be sure, always check the ice thickness before you travel on it.