18 Snowmobilers Rescued by Coast Guard from Dangerous Ice Drift in Ohio

The US Coast Guard rescued 18 snowmobilers after a sheet of ice in Lake Erie broke away from shore near Catawba Island, Ohio.

On Sunday, Feb. 6, the Coast Guard and a nice Samaritan came to the rescue.

Catawba Island, located approximately an hour east of Toledo, juts out into the center of Lake Erie.

Ice Drift

Sea ice that is not tied to the coastline or any other permanent object is known as drift ice or brash ice (shoals, grounded icebergs, etc.), as per ScienceDirect.

Drift ice is pushed along by winds and sea currents, unlike fast ice, which is "fastened" to a permanent object.

Wind and currents can pile up ice to build ridges tens of meters thick. Icebreakers and offshore structures working in cold waters and seas have difficulty.

Rescue Operation

According to AccuWeather, the group of about 20 people had gathered on an ice sheet that was slowly floating out into the lake when Coast Guard officers aboard a helicopter discovered it and began to rescue them.

The helicopter crew rescued seven individuals, while a Coast Guard airboat rescued four more, and a good Samaritan in a personal airboat rescued the other seven.

Coast Guard Sector Detroit's Lt. J.G. Jeremiah Schiessel said that folks might reduce their hazards as there is no such thing as safe ice. He reminded people to always let someone know where they're going and when they plan to return.

The ice on the Great Lakes is unpredictable, and conditions can shift quickly.

The Coast Guard advised individuals heading out on the ice to dress appropriately for the water temperature, wear a life jacket, and bring tools, such as icepicks or screwdrivers to assist them break through the ice if they go through it accidentally.

Warnings

Just a day before the spontaneous rescue operation, the National Weather Service's Cleveland office took to Twitter to warn residents of the hazards of ice drifts, as powerful winds force sheets of ice offshore and deeper into the lake.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided satellite photos of what ice floes look like from the air before and after breaking off the beach.

The ice breaks away from the coast, making it difficult to return to shore without plunging into the lake's freezing water.

According to the National Weather Service, the water temperature of Lake Erie in Toledo is 34 degrees.

Lake Erie was around 80% covered in ice as of Feb. 6, with the lake having above-average ice coverage despite ice not developing until January.

Much of the ice on the lake is between 12 and 28 inches thick, making it more than safe to walk on.

When looking at the Great Lakes as a whole, ice covers 41.4% of their surface.

The National Weather Service recommends that ice be at least 2 inches thick for walking and 5 inches thick for snowmobiling. When the ice is at least 12 inches thick, trucks can drive on it.

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