SHAWANO COUNTY, WI – Unseasonably warm temperatures are beginning to take a toll on ice conditions across area lakes, with officials warning that conditions are becoming increasingly unpredictable despite thick ice in some locations.
DNR Warden Clark Delzer says many lakes are still measuring between 19 and 22 inches of ice overall, but multiple days of temperatures in the 40s and even 50s have significantly weakened ice structure. Melting has accelerated, creating dangerous and inconsistent conditions, especially near shorelines and public landings where ice is typically the first to deteriorate.
Several access points are already being impacted. West Shore launches are largely inaccessible, and Bamboo is becoming increasingly unstable. While the Cecil launch still appears usable for now, Delzer warns those high-traffic areas are often the first to fail as warming continues.
The changing conditions have already forced many anglers to remove their ice shacks, as thinning ice becomes more widespread across the region.
Officials are urging lake users to use extreme caution, noting that even where ice appears thick, stability can vary greatly from one area to the next.
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