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The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that ice measurements are ranging from 3.75 to 5 inches on various parts of Fountain Lake.

According to a post on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, the lake on the west side of City Beach measured 5 inches of ice at 250 feet from the shore.

The Edgewater boat landing had 3.75 inches of ice at 150 feet from the shore, and on the south side of Hatch Bridge there was 3.75 inches at 120 feet from shore.

Ice measured at 4 inches at 150 feet from the shore near the Edgewater fishing pier. The post also stated there was a long crack about 20 feet further that was starting to freeze back over.

Though we’ve had some cold weather since those measurements were taken, we’re also expecting to see some warmer weather in the next few days with a high of 46 degrees forecasted on both Saturday and Sunday and 39 degrees on Monday.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, if ice is less than 4 inches thick, people are advised to stay off, and once it is 4 inches thick it should be safe on foot. When ice is 5 to 7 inches thick it should be generally safe for snowmobiles, and once it reaches 13 to 17 inches thick it should be safe for a truck. Only once it reaches at least 20 inches thick should it be safe for a heavy duty truck and wheelhouse shelter.

We ask that you do your due diligence as you go out on the ice this season and remember that ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water.