Effect of high winds on ice pack?

[Baydawg]

If a medium sized lake (850 acres) is covered 50% with ice. The North end is open and the south end is covered with 5-6” of good ice. If you have a 30-40 mph sustained wind from the south, will it break the ice up? If not what effect will wind have on the ice making or loss?

[ih772]

I wouldn't be too surprised if it did break up.

[Baydawg]

Thanks

[alex-v]

Seems to me that high winds like that would slow down the forming of the ice because of the water movement from the waves. Also, a lake that size with the wind blowing the water towards the far shore the water under the ice could start to drop and the ice would break.

[stampman]

3 years ago on Lake Erie I saw the exact thing you are talking about. Outside my window on Put-in-Bay was a section of ice 5 miles wide an 3 miles long. 30 to 40 mph west winds all night long. Next moring that section of ice was gone.