1/23/2024
WT Staff
HAPPENING NOW
NWS warns of melting river ice, snowpack
Dramatic Coast Guard rescue
Water news for Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - last updated 431 pm EST
All rescued from Lake Erie ice floe
WTOH.us reached out to the Coast Guard for more information on how twenty people became stranded on an ice floe in Lake Erie yesterday off Catawba Island. A statement received this afternoon from the US Coast Guard 9th Division Great Lakes press office explains, "There are many ice fishing enthusiasts around the Great Lakes. Some areas are more popular than others. The cause of this specific ice floe is not known, however common factors that contribute to such formations are warming temperatures, shifting winds, and wake from a passing vessel.
Given the National Weather Service current warning statement about rain and melting snowpack, the risk of insufficient ice is real.
USCG 9th Division Lt. Ahmad says, "The Coast Guard strongly advises those considering going onto the ice to first verify ice conditions, particularly ice thickness. "While we don’t dictate public behavior, we urge the utmost caution. Ice fishing and other ice activities should be conducted on ice that is confirmed to be a safe thickness, usually 4 inches for groups transversing together. Conditions can change rapidly and the Coast Guard recommends having a plan for self-rescue or rapid evacuation if necessary."
(Re-post) CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard rescued nine people from an ice floe on Lake Erie, near Catawba Island, Monday.
At 10:21 a.m., Coast Guard and local authorities responded to an initial report of more than 20 people on an ice floe a half mile off shore near Catawba Island, Ohio.
Coast Guard crews from Station Marblehead and Air Station Detroit responded in conjunction with the Put-in-Bay Fire Department and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Coast Guard rescued nine people and four people were rescued by the Put-in-Bay Fire Department. Seven people were able to self-rescue via their own airboat. A total of 20 people were rescued from the ice floe.
“We are committed to public safety and want to remind everyone the importance of exercising caution around ice formations,” said Lt. Adeeb Ahmad, Sector Detroit Public Affairs Officer. “Ice floes are unpredictable and can quickly become hazardous, particularly in windy conditions or strong currents. Always check local ice conditions before venturing out and be prepared for any emergencies. Your safety is our top priority.”
National Weather Service ADVISORY issued 1142 am Jan 23
Lucas-Wood-Ottawa-Sandusky-Erie-Lorain-Cuyahoga-Lake-Geauga-Ashtabula Inland-Hancock-Seneca-Huron-Medina-Summit-Portage-Trumbull-Wyandot-Crawford-Richland-Ashland-Wayne-Stark-Mahoning-Marion-Morrow-Holmes-Knox-Ashtabula Lakeshore-Northern Erie-Southern Erie Counties
Hazardous Weather Outlook for Wednesday - Several rounds of rain are expected this week with rainfall amounts of near one inch. Above normal temperatures will cause the snowpack to melt with additional run off into area waterways. Rises on area rivers are expected and break up of river ice could lead to ice jams and localized flooding. In addition, ponding of water or minor
flooding could also occur.
Streamflow Situation from USGS Waterwatch based on real-time flow monitors across Ohio
Mostly normal flows statewide with Sandusky River in the Lake Erie basin rated much above normal, down to one monitors recording much below normal in Upper Great Miami basin. Below normal flows appear evenly through all watersheds Tuesday.
No extreme high flows or flooding occuring around any USGS monitored sites, nor extreme low flows.
Drought map from USGS Waterwatch 7-day average streamflow compared with historic flow for today's date
Lower Great Miami River is back on the drought map Tuesday with central Hamilton, Butler, Preble and Montgomery Counties rated below normal.
The height-of-land divide in Ohio runs from Mercer County in the west angling northeast up to Ashtabula County on the east state border. Streamflows north of the divide feed Lake Erie, flows south of the divide run to the Ohio River, part of the Mississippi River basin that drains the majority of interior North America to the Gulf of Mexico.
USGS Provisional Data Statement
Data are provisional and subject to revision until they have been thoroughly reviewed and received final approval. Current condition data relayed by satellite or other telemetry are automatically screened to not display improbable values until they can be verified.
Provisional data may be inaccurate due to instrument malfunctions or physical changes at the measurement site. Subsequent review based on field inspections and measurements may result in significant revisions to the data.
Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences. Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data or concerning other hydrologic data may be obtained from the USGS.
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