WATCH: Ice on Kankakee River begins to break up in weather video

kankakee_ice_e1549499379383.png

Ice on Kankakee River is beginning to melt after a historic cold snap, video posted Wednesday shows. | screengrab via Twitter

Ice on the Kankakee River is starting to melt after a historic cold snap, a video posted Wednesday shows.

The Joliet Weather Center shared a two-minute video of what appears to be a thick shelf of ice traveling downstream. The video, recorded from a bridge, shows solid ice atop the river grating against ice on the river’s bank, the sound of which evokes the thought of cement or chalk on a chalkboard.

Fans of regional weather events seem to appreciate the video. One person tweeted a reminder for residents of the southwest suburb to stay safe, while another person asked: “Could someone ride on it, or would that be a bad idea?”

To be clear: That would probably be a bad idea.

A Chicago man was rescued by police, who formed a “human chain,” after he fell through ice on Lake Michigan during an attempt to save his dog. Another Chicago man was cited for walking on a portion of the lake that had frozen over.

Temperatures fell to near record-breaking lows last month. A daily record was set on Jan. 30 when thermostats clocked the temperature at minus-19 degrees. But the multi-day cold snap has since been followed by relatively warm weather; temperatures were in the high 50s at the start of the work week.

The Latest
Here’s how Kamala Harris and the Democratic National Convention are embracing Charli XCX’s social media post that sparked a cultural movement.
Thousands gathered in Union Park for the Pitchfork Music Festival, the Chicago Bears started training camp at Halas Hall, and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her presidential campaign.
Williams got in defensive end DeMarcus Walker’s face as he went after tight end Gerald Everett on Friday.
Bielema still needs to prove the Illini can win in a conference that just got even better with Oregon, USC, Washington and UCLA on board and has done away with divisions, the days of a weaker West now over.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT Sports, is seeking a judgment that it matched Amazon Prime Video’s offer and an order seeking to delay the new media rights deal from taking effect beginning with the 2025-26 season.