Ice Shove

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What causes ice shove?

 

There are several factors that contribute to shoreline ice shove. On Shawano Lake, a majority of our shoreline damage typically occurs in the coldest part of winter when the ice is cracking, the joints fill with water and refreeze – thus expanding.  Some years we do not get a deep frost as is typical for WI winters.  As a result, instead of the ice riding up the frozen ground, it was able to plow into the shoreline more easily.

 

In addition, the land temperature causes the water near shore to freeze last and thaw first causing a huge, very heavy, floating ice sheet on the lake. The bigger the lake, the more force the wind can apply to push this heavy mass of ice toward the shore.