Slow Motion Ice Avalanche: High winds push 5 to 20 foot Mille Lacs “ice drifts” ashore; Damaged boat houses & condos

This week I predicted "ice drifts" would come ashore on Mille Lacs with high winds Saturday.

I had no idea it would be this bad.

Sustained winds near 20 mph, with gusts to near 40 mph shoved an avalanche of ice from Lake Mille Lacs onshore Saturday.

Take a look at the incredible video at Izatys as the unstoppable "ice invasion" rolls ashore.

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I have seen many things in 30 years of forecasting weather in Minnesota. I have never seen anything like this.

Maybe NWS will need to come up with a new type of "Damaging Lake Ice Invasion Warning" for future outbreaks.

Thankfully winds Sunday should be under 10mph and I don't expect a repeat performance.

But Monday winds will shift into the south and could gust over 20 mph at times. Persons on the north shore of Mille Lacs should be alert for possible "onshore ice floes" Monday.

Simply astonishing.

Paul Huttner