Milwaukee River strange ice formation seen near West Bend
Strange ice formation seen on Milwaukee River near West Bend (Credit: Amanda H.)
WEST BEND, Wis. - The FOX6 Weather Experts were very excited to get these amazing pictures from FOX6 viewer Amanda H. in the West Bend area. This is what is known as frazil ice.
The pictures in this post were taken on Thursday, Feb. 15 on the Milwaukee River -- along the Eisenbahn Trail in West Bend.
This formation is not common. After a bit of research, we've learned that frazil ice is basically a slushy ice that forms in rivers when cold air causes surface water temperature to be super-cooled.
Milwaukee River near West Bend (Credit: Amanda H.)
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Super-cooled water is unable to form a solid ice cover because the water is moving. So slushy frazil ice forms and flows downstream.
Ice on Milwaukee River near West Bend (Credit: Amanda H.)
The frazil ice then piles up and folds over on itself against obstructions or in areas of low velocity areas like around bends in the river or where the river constricts.
EDIT - After discussions with the Senior Hydrologist at the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan, there is some question as to whether this formation is actually Frazil ice or something similar but slightly different! The heavy, wet snowfall on the date of these pics may also have had a big impact on this formation. The formation may actually be something similar to what Russian atmospheric scientists call Snezhura. That formation occurs when snow falls on water in a river with near freezing temperatures. We, along with the NWS, are continuing to look into this and will update you as we get more information.