Drone captures kids playing on frozen Lake Michigan waves: ‘almost certain death’

With temperatures well below zero – and the wind chill even colder – Michigan has been a frozen landscape for the past week, with no end coming until at least the middle of next week.

January in Michigan is typically bitterly cold and this prolonged stretch of arctic air is freezing over the Great Lakes – a normal occurrence we typically see each winter.

By the numbers:

As of Jan. 21, 21% of the Great Lakes were covered in ice. It's an increase from this time last winter when just 16% of the Great Lakes were frozen, which was the peak ice coverage for the season. But this brutally cold stretch of weather is bringing the ice back this winter.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Lake Michigan's ice coverage has been rising since the start of the year and has surpassed its historical average for this time of year.

Local perspective:

On the shores of Lake Michigan, shelf ice is growing along the bank and, on Saturday, a drone camera operator spotted a family standing and playing on the ice.

Nathan Voytovick of Nate’s Dronography showed an adult and two children standing on the ice while waves continue to smash into it in Saint Joseph, Michigan.

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In his video, you can see multiple people standing around on the shore behind the trio, as well as a few others out on the ice. 

At one point, the man on the ice turns around and waves to someone else to join them. At that moment, a wave crashed and took out a large chunk of ice just a few feet away.

Voytovick said the footage was hard to record because of the danger of standing on the ice as waves crashed into it.

"It’s hollow under the kids and ice falls in right next to them," he said, adding that "It’s almost certain death as you’d be slammed under the ice."

What they're saying:

Don't go on the ice. The Saugatauck Township Fire District posted on Sunday a warning about shelf ice.

"The Lake Michigan ice is always unstable, and you should NEVER venture out onto the ice caves," they wrote.

The fire department said they will risk a lot to save a life but falling into the shelf ice could leave someone with a small chance of climbing out.

"Although our crews will always risk a lot to save a life, it is likely they may be unable to save you if you fall through the ice caves on Lake Michigan. Please don't become the next victim!" the department wrote. 

Inland ice fishing is safer but life jackets and caution are urged.

The Source: FOX 2 consulted with NOAA and Climate.gov for data on Great Lakes ice coverage. We also found information about the shelf ice from the Saugatauck Township Fire District on Facebook.

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