WALKER — Officials are concerned about potentially dangerous ice conditions in Northern Minnesota as record-breaking heat creates a wide range of ice thickness on area lakes.
Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk said in a news release that the fluctuating temperature has led to unpredictable and unsafe ice formations. The sheriff’s office received several reports of large ice cracks forming this past weekend, including on Leech Lake.
The sheriff says this week’s warm temperatures have led to snow melting on the ice, weakening its ability to hold weight. Some areas are not thick enough for vehicle travel.
With the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Saturday, Feb. 3, now spread across multiple Brainerd area lakes, Welk reminded those headed out to be cautious and check ahead.
According to the sheriff’s office, ice conditions in the contest area range from 5-12 inches.
Record high temperatures were recorded across Northern Minnesota on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Brainerd reached a high of 52 degrees, breaking the National Weather Service’s previous record of 48 degrees set in 1993. Grand Rapids saw 49 degrees, 2 degrees warmer than the 2009 record of 47 degrees.
Temperatures are forecast to remain near historic highs, and more records may be broken in the coming days. The highest temperature ever recorded in Walker on Feb. 3 was 28 degrees, recorded in 2012. The National Weather Service predicts a high of 41 degrees on Saturday.
