Coast Guard: Lake Erie ice isn't safe

SANDUSKY — The U.S. Coast Guard warned the public Monday to avoid venturing on Lake Erie ice amid rising temperatures.Three locals fell through the ice this past weekend. The trio was rescued from ice near East Harbor State Park by crewmembers from the Coast Guard station in Marblehead. "The recent warm period combined, with winds, have decayed the ice in certain areas," said Jean-Yves Rancourt, an environment Canadian ice specialist in a Coast Guard news release. Coast Guard Sector Detroit, which oversees Coast Guard operations across the region, including the Marblehead station, reported 21 people in need of help on the ice in recent days. Of those people, three died. "Last week, we warned people of the increasing temperature and the associated dangers of going out on the ice," said Kevin Floyd, a search and rescue mission coordinator based in Detroit. "We issued the warning after rescuing 10 people and losing one life due to unstable ice conditions and fog."The Coast Guard encouraged people to keep an eye on weather forecasts and to be prepared in case of an emergency.Local weather forecastTuesday: High of 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Low of 26 degrees. Rain and snow mix possible.Wednesday: High of 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Low of 23 degrees. Mostly cloudy.Thursday: High of 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Low of 28 degrees. Partly sunny.Friday: High of 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Low of 41 degrees. Partly cloudy.Source: accuweather.com.Reach news editor Patrick Pfanner at pfanner@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @PatPfanner and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterAn ice rescue crewmember from Coast Guard Station Marblehead, Ohio, rescues a victim actor from the ice of Lake Erie during Icy Resolve 2013, an ice rescue training exercise held at the station, Feb. 9, 2013.