All bets in!! All bets in!!!

[itsbob]

March 7th...Huron

[West Basin]

Anyone going out now is taking a big risk.

The Lake has a lot of ice on it. The water temperature is around 34-36 degrees. There is hardly anyone paying much attention to the Lake. If someone goes out in a boat and has a problem, even something as simple as an engine not starting, they could very well be out there for hours before anyone could get to them.

This is the kind of ice that is floating around out there - photo below. Even if you think an area is ice free, you never know when you might encounter pieces like this. I saw these last Wednesday. They are at least 8 inches thick. Many are a lot thicker. The other photo is from the Perry Monument webcam this morning. Ice is still locked in NW of South Bass Island. Modis satellite photos show a lot of ice on the Lake. Again, wind and currents move this ice around. An area that is "ice free" can have ice in just a few hours.

I understand a few people will take the risk. Fine. If they have a problem, don't expect anyone else to risk their life to come rescue you, except the Coast Guard and local emergency responders. And you would be putting their lives in danger.

Well the photo insert is not working, so no photos. Photo had ice chucks as big as half a basketball court to the size of a kitchen table. Some are not visible until you get right up on them.