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Black ice forms on lakes

Friday, 10 February 2023 06:30

A rare meteorological phenomenon is affecting two lakes in the Upper Engadine – black ice.

The lakes of Sils and Silvaplana have frozen over with an eerie black sheen. 

Forecasters at MeteoSuisse says it can only happen when it gets very cold. The water needs to be very dense and still, so the whole lake has to drop below 4 degrees and then with no wind. Then the surface will freeze with a black colouring. 

It’s actually the lake bed which can be seen clearly.

Forecasters say the conditions were set as the early part of the season was actually quite warm, stopping the ice forming, but allowing the water temperature to fall.

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