CLEVELAND — Temperatures will jump into the 40s and 50s for much of Ohio on Tuesday, and as the air heats up, the National Weather Service in Cleveland is urging people to stay off Lake Erie.
What You Need To Know
Lake Erie has been over 90% frozen over the last few weeks
On Tuesday, NWS officials are urging Ohioans to stay off the lake, as the warming temperatures and wind will create dangerous conditions
Over the past few days, there have been visible cracks in the ice, including a large one stretching over 80 miles
Lake Erie has been over 90% frozen in the last few weeks as Ohio has faced what seems like a non-stop arctic blast.
Just the other day, people were seen walking on the lake, taking photos and ice fishing, enjoying the frozen conditions.
But on Tuesday, NWS officials are urging Ohioans to stay off the lake, as the warming temperatures and wind will create dangerous conditions.
“Mild temperatures and offshore winds may cause ice to push away from the Lake Erie shoreline (Tuesday),” NWS in Cleveland wrote in a Facebook post. “Satellite imagery shows that cracks have already recently opened in the ice. Anyone caught on the ice if it breaks away would become stranded. It is strongly advised to stay off the ice.”
Over the past few days, there have been visible cracks in the ice, including a large one stretching over 80 miles, according to Spectrum News 1 meteorologists.
Despite the amount of ice coverage, the Cuyahoga County Emergency Management Agency warned Ohioans a week ago that while it may seem safe, it’s never 100% safe.
On average, between 2014 and 2024, 21 people died in Lake Erie each year, according to Towey Law. While many of the deaths happen over the summer, because of water sports like boating and jet skiing, some happen in the winter. Between those 10 years, 13 deaths were attributed to falling in.
“It is never recommended that you walk on ice,” Cuyahoga County EMA said. “Fluctuating temperatures and underwater currents can create unstable, dangerous conditions.”
If someone falls through the ice and you witness it, don’t run to where they fell in. Instead:
Call 911
Use a rope, ladder, stick or other sturdy object to reach out from a safe distance
Instruct the person to kick their legs and pull themselves onto the ice horizontally