Ice covering much of Lake Erie

SANDUSKY — Thanks to the recent cold snap, much of Lake Erie is covered with ice, including apparently all of the water body's western portion. Those conditions appear likely to continue with very cold weather expected in the greater Sandusky area and beyond over the next few days. As of Tuesday, a map released by the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory showed much of Lake Erie covered by ice except for portions of the eastern part of the lake. A different map issued by the U.S. National Ice Center also showed the western part of Lake Erie covered with ice with an estimated 2 inches to 6 inches in the portion of the lake offshore Sandusky. The temperature in Sandusky was a relatively warm 39 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, and Thursday was also brisk, but temperatures were projected to start falling again beginning Thursday night. "Prolonged exposure to cold can result in frozen pipes, potential power outages, dead car batteries, frostbite and hypothermia. Take the necessary precautions to stay safe!" the National Weather Service posted. Ice growth that is "moderate to rapid" is expected across the Great Lakes Friday through Sunday, the National Weather Service said. The city of Sandusky had to ask local residents and businesses to limit water use after the cold hampered the city's water intake, but lifted those restrictions on Wednesday. With extreme cold expected to return, city officials pledged to monitor the situation. "Because cold weather is expected to continue, the City is continuing to evaluate system conditions and has additional temporary piping and pumping equipment onsite that may be installed at the Sandusky Bay intake to help support consistent water flow if needed," a city press release stated. A spokeswoman for Shores & Islands Ohio, the local tourism agency for Erie and Ottawa counties, said interest in ice fishing is expected to rise as the cold snap continues. "Brian Shifflet, our visitor experience manager in our Port Clinton welcome center, told me they are working on updating our Ice Fishing Guide in anticipation of this cold snap and possible increased interest," said Jill Bauer, public relations manager for the tourism burea.