Crime & Safety

Sheriff's Office Warns Residents About Thin Ice

Temperatures this weekend will climb to 60 degrees.

 

(The following news release come from The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.)

 

Find out what's happening in Hopkinswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to use caution on all bodies of water due to thin ice and open water.  

This weekend, temperatures will climb to 60-degrees which will continue to melt and deteriorate ice conditions. At the same time, the warmer weather will mean more children will spend time outdoors near lakes and other bodies of water. Parents and guardians are urged to use active supervision when children are near bodies of water due to thin ice.

Find out what's happening in Hopkinswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last month, the Sheriff Office banned the use of cars, trucks, and SUVs on all bodies of water in Hennepin County. That ban remains in place. Lake access points remain closed.

In addition, the Sheriff’s Office urges you to remember these safety precautions:

  • Anyone who plans to venture onto the ice with recreational vehicles, such as snowmobiles and ATVs, should be aware that this activity involves an increased level of risk at this time.
  • Four inches of ice is the recommended minimum thickness for walking and small group activities on ice. No ice should ever be considered safe.
  • Remember to keep your dog on a leash this time of year. The Sheriff’s Office has responded to incidents involving pet owners who put themselves in jeopardy chasing after a dog that wandered onto the ice.

Ice thickness is variable due to the warm weather and freezing and thawing that has taken place throughout the winter and over the past several weeks.  On Lake Minnetonka and other lakes, there are areas of open water.

For more information about ice safety, the Minnesota DNR has information online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.