Now that winter is here, many people will look to enjoy a wide variety of cold weather activities. To that end, the Government of Saskatchewan wants to remind everyone to be safe on the ice this season.
Ice thickness is dependent on the body of water local conditions. It does not freeze at a uniform thickness and ice strength can vary considerably from one area to another.
Always check ice thickness before attempting to travel on it.
Generally, you need at least 10 cm (four inches) of ice to walk on, 20 cm (eight inches) to drive a snowmobile or ATV on, 30 cm (12 inches) to drive a car or light truck on, and more than 30 cm (12 inches) to support a heavy truck.
Avoid ice that:
- looks slushy;
- has thawed, then frozen again;
- is near moving water;
- is layered, caused by sudden temperature changes; or
- has structures on it, such as pressure ridges.
Be aware that river ice is often more hazardous and inconsistent than lake ice.
Have questions about ice fishing? Visit the Saskatchewan Anglers’ Guide.
