Philadelphia police are issuing a stark warning: stay off the ice on the Schuylkill River and other frozen bodies of water in the city. With temperatures plummeting to as low as 20s, the river has partially frozen over, but this unusual occurrence is proving too enticing for some thrill-seekers.
The lure of walking or even ice skating on the icy surface may seem appealing, but it's a recipe for disaster. Police are warning that river ice is not as thick as it looks and moving water underneath weakens it, posing a significant risk to anyone who steps onto it. Conditions can change rapidly, making it impossible to predict the safety of the ice.
So far, police have responded to multiple calls about people on icy rivers and streams, but fortunately, no rescues have been necessary – yet. While authorities are being cautious, they're also emphasizing awareness, education, and safety as their primary approach. If individuals refuse to leave the ice when asked, they may face fines, with some areas within Fairmount Park coming under scrutiny.
This phenomenon is rare, occurring only a couple of times every decade, which explains why police are taking this warning seriously. The conditions required for such an event – five days of temperatures in the teens and 20s – have come together, but it's unlikely to last.
Weather experts predict that warmer weather will take several days to arrive, and even then, it won't be enough to melt the ice entirely. Temperatures need to reach the mid-40s for the ice to start breaking up, which is a process that can take time.
The advice from meteorologists is clear: avoid walking, ice skating, or fishing on frozen bodies of water unless the ice is at least 4 to 5 inches thick. Even then, it's essential to exercise extreme caution, avoiding areas with cracks or holes and staying away from flowing water or ice that appears to have thawed and refrozen.
The Philadelphia Water Department has yet to respond to questions about the thickness of the ice on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, leaving residents to navigate these treacherous waters at their own risk. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: it's crucial for everyone to stay vigilant and heed the warnings from authorities.
The lure of walking or even ice skating on the icy surface may seem appealing, but it's a recipe for disaster. Police are warning that river ice is not as thick as it looks and moving water underneath weakens it, posing a significant risk to anyone who steps onto it. Conditions can change rapidly, making it impossible to predict the safety of the ice.
So far, police have responded to multiple calls about people on icy rivers and streams, but fortunately, no rescues have been necessary – yet. While authorities are being cautious, they're also emphasizing awareness, education, and safety as their primary approach. If individuals refuse to leave the ice when asked, they may face fines, with some areas within Fairmount Park coming under scrutiny.
This phenomenon is rare, occurring only a couple of times every decade, which explains why police are taking this warning seriously. The conditions required for such an event – five days of temperatures in the teens and 20s – have come together, but it's unlikely to last.
Weather experts predict that warmer weather will take several days to arrive, and even then, it won't be enough to melt the ice entirely. Temperatures need to reach the mid-40s for the ice to start breaking up, which is a process that can take time.
The advice from meteorologists is clear: avoid walking, ice skating, or fishing on frozen bodies of water unless the ice is at least 4 to 5 inches thick. Even then, it's essential to exercise extreme caution, avoiding areas with cracks or holes and staying away from flowing water or ice that appears to have thawed and refrozen.
The Philadelphia Water Department has yet to respond to questions about the thickness of the ice on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, leaving residents to navigate these treacherous waters at their own risk. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain: it's crucial for everyone to stay vigilant and heed the warnings from authorities.
. It's like, no brain, no pain, right? They're literally putting lives at risk just 4 fun. And now they're gonna get fined 4 it? Good luck with that, thrill-seekers. The police are doin' their job, but it's so frustrating when people don't listen. I mean, the ice is not as thick as it looks, and it can break under u at any moment. It's just not worth the risk, you know? 
but seriously though, 20s temps might sound cool but those rivers are not safe for ice skating or even just walking around! the police have a point, river ice is super thin and moving water underneath makes it super weak. i feel bad for the ppl who gotta deal with calls about these incidents tho, they must be stressed 
anyhoo, glad no rescues have been necessary so far...fingers crossed that warmer weather comes soon! 
I'm so glad the police are taking this seriously! I mean, it's just crazy thinking about people walking on ice that looks like it can hold their weight... like, no way! 
If I were in Philly right now, I'd be totally hesitant to even step foot near those frozen rivers. The thought of all that moving water underneath and the conditions changing so fast is just terrifying. And don't even get me started on people who think they're invincible because they've seen videos online... um, nope! Not worth the risk, fam 
. I hope everyone takes this warning to heart and stays safe out there! 
I totally get why people wanna try out ice skating on the Schuylkill River, but like, it's just not worth it 
. I've lived in Philly my whole life, and I know how tempting it can be to explore new places, especially when the temps drop. But trust me, this is one situation where you gotta listen to the experts 
. Those temps may seem mild, but the ice is super thin and unpredictable. It's not worth risking your safety just for a fun day out on the ice 
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. It's gonna take some effort to get everyone to listen, but I think it's doable if we all just look out for each other 
. So yeah, let's all just stick to warmer, safer activities for now 
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I know some people might think it's fun to walk or skate on it, but trust me, it's not worth the risk 
. I mean, we've got those crazy temperature fluctuations going on and the last thing we need is someone getting hurt because they didn't listen to the warnings 
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i mean whats the point of walkin or skatin on a river thats just gonna break under u? like come on, 20s temp and it's already frozen over? idc when it thaws out but till then stay away from those icy waters bro 
police are right on it tho, they got multiple calls about ppl on icy waters & thank god no rescues had 2 b made yet, but we all know that can change in a sec. i wouldnt wanna be the one who has 2 deal wit da aftermath of gettin stuck or worse... authorities r tryin 2 educate people & warn them about da dangers so let's all just chill & stay safe, pls 
. If I were a police officer in Philly, I'd be even more aggressive about enforcing this no-go zone 
. And can we talk about how unpredictable these weather conditions are? One day it's like ice skating rink, next day it's like... not 
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. It's not worth risking life and limb over a temporary thrill 
. Fines for ignoring the warnings? That should be enough to scare people off. Can't we just trust the authorities for once? 
. And 4-5 inches of ice is like "don't be stupid" thickness 
, but then again, some people are just really adventurous 
. I'm not saying they're stupid or anything, it's just that... I guess it's better to err on the side of caution and stuff 
. I mean, I'm not saying it's a good thing to be out there on the ice, but... at the same time, it's kinda cool that people are still excited about it 
And don't say I didn't warn you... 
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. it's like they say, "you never know what's beneath" 
. i mean, even if the ice looks thick, the water underneath is still moving & that's just asking for trouble 
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. The police are totally right - that river ice can be super thin and you never know what's happening beneath the surface 