Lake shoved piles of ice onto Port Clinton's beach

PORT CLINTON - Mountainous piles of ice estimated at 6 to 8 feet high line the shores of Port Clinton's city beach, as well as other beaches in Ottawa County this winter.

Fluctuating temperatures allow the ice to form, then thaw into chunks and be moved by the waves, piling on top of one another to create what are called "ice shoves."

Port Clinton's ice shoves are relatively early this year, with unusually warm January temperatures and winds pushing the ice southbound onto the beach.

In some parts of the Great Lakes, Upper Midwest and Canada, ice shoves are common in the spring as lake ice breaks up, floats, then gets pushed ashore, according to the Weather Channel.

It's not recommended to climb on the ice, as it could be unstable and dangerous.

jdenton@gannett.com

419-559-1925

Twitter: @jessicadentonNH