MA Thin Ice Warning Despite Recent Cold Stretch: State Police

MASSACHUSETTS — State Police are warning Massachusetts residents to be wary of ice conditions across the Commonwealth despite this recent stretch of frigid weather.

After several incidents where people and animals had to be rescued from ponds and other waterways that appeared more frozen solid than they actually were in recent weeks, State Police said on Thursday: "We're not confident that any Massachusetts body of water has adequately frozen for activities like walking, skating, or fishing."

"Before venturing out on the ice, we ask everyone to use good judgment as swimmers do in the summer," State Police said.

The warning comes after police said responders from the Boston Barracks were called to what they said was a "false report" of a person falling through the ice on the Esplanade in Boston.

"Troopers confirmed the safety of all parties on scene and subsequently asked people to keep off the ice and stay on land," police said.

Wellesley police on Sunday posted a video of firefighters making a dramatic ice rescue of a person and a dog that went through the ice on Lake Waban late in the afternoon.

An Ireland native with strong ties to Newton also died after falling through the ice on an apparent frozen pond in New Hampshire on Friday, according to a report from MSN.

According to witnesses, she was screaming for help before disappearing underwater.

While backyard rinks and shallow ponds are likely safe enough for skating and other light activities, moving water under ponds could still make larger bodies of water uneven as temperatures have not been as cold as the wind chills have made it seem in recent days.

The ice could become even more shaky in the coming days with temperatures expected to reach freezing on Thursday and then be up to 15 degrees above freezing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before a dramatic shot of harsh winter cold returns early next week.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)