Lake Erie ice caves ‘underwhelming’
With reports of ice caves forming in Crystal Beach, Fort Erie Fire Department Chief Ed Melanson says people who venture on to Lake Erie to check them out should be wary of the ice.
“Stay off the ice, that would be the best way to stay safe,” Melanson told The Tribune just as he was leaving the popular Waterfront Park.
Melanson said ice conditions change all the time and noted that Lake Erie is not completely frozen solid.
“The wind could push the ice in and out causing adverse conditions. People need to be aware of that at all times.”
The chief said the last time ice caves formed along the shoreline, for about a kilometre in either direction from Waterfront Park, was in 2014. That year was also marked by extremely cold weather conditions.
“We had large, large ice caves here with many people visiting them,” he said of the 2014 formations.
At the time, the naturally-formed ice caves attracted thousands of visitors, with estimates as high as 10,000 over a two-day period, as various media outlets in Canada and the U.S. reported on them.
“We had many, many people visiting and there were some injuries on the ice and some melting. We decided to knock the ice caves down in order to facilitate public safety,” Melanson said.
The ice caves — one of which in 2014 was reported to be 10 metres deep, five metres wide and two metres high — were created by shove ice, a formation of ice that freezes on top of water. High winds break up that ice and waves pound it onto shore, pushing it up on top of itself and forming caves and other structures.
“Looking at this, I don’t see anything like it was in 2014. As a matter of fact, it’s a little underwhelming,” said Melanson.
With temperatures as low as –27 C with the windchill Saturday, most people who travelled to Waterfront Park to see what had formed didn’t leave their cars. Those few who did quickly got back in after snapping a few photos.
On the east side of the park, where the larger ice caves formed in 2014, there was one very small cave visible from the shore.
On the west side, there were a number of tall ice mounds and ice volcanoes. Ice volcanoes are mounds, small to large, with holes on the top. Water, sand and ice can be seen shooting through them when pushed in by waves from below. But the volcanoes lie dormant as the water around them is frozen.
Melanson said if people do decide to venture on the ice, there are potential hidden dangers such as fractures in the ice.
“People won’t see them until they are right on top of them, especially this year. We’ve had more snow than in previous years and that could be covering up some of the hazards.”
If someone were to fall through the ice, Melanson said Fort Erie firefighters are very well trained.
“My guys wouldn’t go out on the ice without their rescue gear, ropes and harnesses. But I don’t want them going out there if they don’t have to.”
Melanson said he and the deputy fire chief will continue to monitor the ice conditions at Waterfront Park.