Are the Straits of Detroit 'Officially' Frozen Over?

**Lowell** · February-12-14, 10:44 AM

It would appear that the straits are frozen over and it would be possible [if crazy] to cross by foot with some planning.

This brings up a legal question. Is it against the law to go out on the ice and, if so, at what point does one cross the international border? That question must occur in the ice fisheries of Lake St. Clair too.

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**Scottathew** · February-12-14, 10:51 AM

I was riding the people mover yesterday and we debated this as we looked out at the river. I think it is very possible in current conditions to walk to Windsor across the river.

**Kevgoblue** · February-12-14, 11:00 AM

Really? I still see quite a bit of open water between those chunks of ice. $1 Million in cash would not entice me to step one foot on that river.

**Lowell** · February-12-14, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

Really? I still see quite a bit of open water between those chunks of ice. $1 Million in cash would not entice me to step one foot on that river.

Not for $1Million? Really? I would. Of course I would hire a helicopter with a rescue basket to hover me.

There are some open water spots on he Canadian side but there appears to be routes around those.

**Honky Tonk** · February-12-14, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Lowell

It would appear that the straits are frozen over and it would be possible [if crazy] to cross by foot with some planning.

I guess that depends how much weight you're carrying.......

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**CassTechGrad** · February-12-14, 11:40 AM

I was in Forestville yesterday, between Port Sanilac and Harbor Beach and took this picture. The lake was frozen out as far as you could see, maybe 20 miles to the horizon. I've never seen that before. It's about 40 miles to Canada at this point and I'd like to see someone try to walk acoss that distance!
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**mikeg19** · February-12-14, 11:46 AM

I'd think a Coast Guard Cutter would be running through there fairly often for ships right? I know the Soo Locks are closed for the season, but there is still boat traffic on the lakes right now correct?

**Honky Tonk** · February-12-14, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by mikeg19

I'd think a Coast Guard Cutter would be running through there fairly often for ships right? I know the Soo Locks are closed for the season, but there is still boat traffic on the lakes right now correct?

You are correct. This was taken during the first freeze. I've see CG ice breakers escorting ships while on the South side of Belle Isle twice this season. I'm not sure if @ some point ship traffic completely stops.

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**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-12-14, 12:12 PM

Even when the river [[or great lakes) freeze over, ice thickness varies immensely. I wouldn't ever deem it safe, especially in a relatively swift flowing river [[and the water is still flowing under the ice). I have no idea what the odds are for walking across without falling through; I am certain, though, that falling through would lead to super-rapid hypothermia. And if you fell through and were swept under the solid ice, you would be virtually unsaveable, helicopter or not. In short: if you want to walk across, make sure your affairs are in order first.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-12-14, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by mikeg19

I'd think a Coast Guard Cutter would be running through there fairly often for ships right? I know the Soo Locks are closed for the season, but there is still boat traffic on the lakes right now correct?

The Mackinaw has been down here breaking it up. A couple of weeks ago I noticed it was iced over and had snow on it. The next day it was gone.

I later heard there was a fuel spill in the river due to a problem refueling the Mackinaw. It was a few hundred gallons. http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...aw/2014/02/10/

**Islandman** · February-12-14, 12:39 PM

http://www.shipwrite.bc.ca/Chilling_truth.htm

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-12-14, 01:11 PM

Btw great pics by all on this thread.

**BillyBBrew** · February-12-14, 01:24 PM

I would not trust any ice with current running under it, especially Detroit River ice. There is still the occasional boat traffic running. The tug Everlast/Barge Norman McLeod passed down Saturday morning and back up again Sunday morning. Not sure if anything has moved since them, particularly since I'm on the river at night and the Coast Guard does not break ice at night.

**Jimaz** · February-12-14, 03:04 PM

Great Lakes ice cover spreading rapidly; see which lake set a new record

[Lake Superior] is 92 percent frozen, toppling a 20-year-old record of 91 percent set on Feb. 5, 1994.

Wow. Just wow.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-12-14, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Jimaz

Great Lakes ice cover spreading rapidly; see which lake set a new recordWow. Just wow.

Jimaz it is wow-worthy, but it is not unprecedented. Just rare.

**Jimaz** · February-12-14, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Originally Posted by Jimaz

Great Lakes ice cover spreading rapidly; see which lake set a new record

[Lake Superior] is 92 percent frozen, toppling a 20-year-old record of 91 percent set on Feb. 5, 1994.

Wow. Just wow.

Jimaz it is wow-worthy, but it is not unprecedented. Just rare.

"toppling a 20-year-old record" is "not unprecedented"?!

Where can you possibly intend to go with that line of reasoning?

**EastsideAl** · February-13-14, 01:25 AM

[[In)famously, back when the world was a colder place, there was a time when the Detroit River froze solid enough that some people would drive cars across it.

My grandfather used to regale us with tales of the years when he'd drive his stripped-down Ford out across the river ice to Windsor and back. And it was, of course, quite a bit heavier on the return trip. The money involved was well short of a million bucks, but it was certainly more than enough to get him out there several times a winter. His continued survival was, has said, evidence enough that the undertaking was not, in fact, as dangerous as it might seem.

Repeal [[something my grandfather lamented for years afterwards as deeply injurious to his earning power) seemed to have created a thaw from which our frozen waterway has never really recovered.

**MikeM** · February-13-14, 01:33 AM

I think the Coast Guard has been requiring icebreaker escorts for boats transiting the Detroit/St Clair River system. The big trouble point this season seems to be the St Clair River adjacent Harsens Island. Two tankers have been stuck there this evening while a Canadian cutter works around them.

**Bobl** · February-13-14, 02:00 AM

Great photos, all. I wouldn't try it for a million dollars. We saw a lot of open water near the Ambassador Bridge from our 20th floor room at the Book Cadillac, last weekend.
My parents crossed the ice of the St Clair River, more than once, to the family cottage in Port Lambton, Ontario, from Algonac, in the 1930s.

**MikeM** · February-13-14, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by MikeM

I think the Coast Guard has been requiring icebreaker escorts for boats transiting the Detroit/St Clair River system. The big trouble point this season seems to be the St Clair River adjacent Harsens Island. Two tankers have been stuck there this evening while a Canadian cutter works around them.

Still stuck there this morning.

www.marinetraffic.com

**mikefmich** · February-13-14, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Not for $1Million? Really? I would. Of course I would hire a helicopter with a rescue basket to hover me.

There are some open water spots on he Canadian side but there appears to be routes around those.

I'd pass on that million. I went thru ice twice as a kid......unbelievable cold/shock to my system. One time...I thought I was a goner. That's something I've never forgotten.

If I went in now at my age, I'd probably stroke or coronary instantly.

**Chinman** · February-13-14, 09:43 AM

There are no Straits of Detroit. The name Detroit means 'Straits'. Just sayin.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-13-14, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Jimaz

"toppling a 20-year-old record" is "not unprecedented"?!

Where can you possibly intend to go with that line of reasoning?

That line in the Mlive article is referring to the ice level for the last 20 years. The wikipedia article on Lake Superior demonstrates that it does freeze over about once in every 20 years. Interestingly, the obviously older Wikipedia entry also stresses alarm about the lake's warmer temperatures in recent years. No worries this year!

I was merely pointing out that while this year is unusually cold and iced over, it has happened before, and on a rare but regular basis, as far back as we have records. That is not to lessen what a spectacle it is. Also, things seem a little different because we have a plethora of photos, including stunning satellite images.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · February-13-14, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Chinman

There are no Straits of Detroit. The name Detroit means 'Straits'. Just sayin.

Yes, but no. "Detroit" is the French term for straits, but it is also a proper name, in this case of the city. It is appropriate and common to call a body of water by the name of adjoining land. Since the body of water is actually a strait, and not a river, it is correct to refer to what we generally call the Detroit River as the Straits of Detroit. I don't suspect it will catch on, though.