Ice Volcanoes Erupt on Beach

Ice volcanoes erupted on a Lake Michigan beach on Saturday, and a video capturing the phenomenon was shared on social media.

The video shows ice volcano eruptions occurring as waves batter the formations. Despite their name, ice volcanos aren’t volcanoes at all, as there is no magma involved. The phenomenon is an ice formation that appears under the right winter conditions. The phenomenon occurred over the weekend in Saugatuck, Michigan, after waves crashed into the ice formations that had accumulated on the beach.

“Check out this video of ice volcanoes that erupted yesterday in Saugatuck, MI! Ice volcanoes erupt when strong waves hit accumulated ice on the shoreline,” account WeatherNation posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a video of the eruptions.

Check out this video of ice volcanoes that erupted yesterday in Saugatuck, MI!

Ice volcanoes erupt when strong waves hit accumulated ice on the shoreline. #MIwx pic.twitter.com/gNhleS4Zno

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) January 22, 2024

As of Tuesday afternoon, the video has been viewed nearly 10,000 times.

Ice covers Lake Michigan’s shoreline as temperatures dropped to -20 degrees F (-29 C) on January 30, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. Ice volcanoes recently formed in Saugatuck, Michigan.
Getty

Although fascinating, ice volcanoes are a common occurrence during the winter months in Michigan. The accumulations can range from less than a meter (3.3 feet) to more than 8 meters, according to a Discovery report.

High surf conditions, cold temperatures and ice are required for an ice volcano to form. Wave activity must be at least a meter high, Michigan Tech reported, as smaller waves aren’t big enough to create the volcano’s cone shape.

The formations occur at the edge of the ice shelf and are created from the movement of the waves hitting the formation. The waves eject icy water onto the ice shelf when it hits the ice volcano. If the cones remain active but become completely enclosed by the ice shelf, wave energy from below can push water up through any cracks or openings, leading to an eruption.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Grand Rapids has shared the phenomenon on social media in the past. Newsweek reached out to the office by email for comment.

Temperatures were certainly cold enough on Saturday for the ice volcanoes to form. Saugatuck faced single-digit temperatures in the morning before the temperatures rose to the mid-20s as the day progressed.

Winter weather conditions also created rare ice “sculptures” along the shores of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, South Haven, and at the St. Joseph Michigan lighthouses in Michigan and in Michigan City, Indiana.

Icicles were seen hanging from lighthouses and piers to the point where the structures are nearly covered in ice.

The Grand Rapids region can expect more harsh weather, as the NWS issued an advisory for the area on Tuesday. The forecast warns of mixed precipitation, with snow accumulations of up to 1 inch. Ice accumulations are also possible.