Enjoy South Dakota's Nice Weather But Ice Fish With Caution

With temps predicted to be in the upper 40's and low 50's this week, don't be in a hurry to drill that new ice fishing hole.

Some people get ahead of themselves and don't realize just because it warmed up outside, that must be a perfect time to enjoy a sunny day of fishing.

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Hearing news of anglers falling through the ice on a warm February day is not uncommon. But it is preventable.

Be smart and know the body of water you'll be fishing. And, make sure that you are aware of the thickness of the ice.

To have a safe ice fishing experience the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department reminds us that it takes at least two inches of ice to support an angler, at least six inches to support an ice shack, and over afoot for a vehicle, but that applies to strong, clear ice.

And one other important note, dark or cloudy ice is not as strong as clear ice.

What you need for a safe and fun ice fishing outing:

Lifejacket
Safe ice
Drill test holes
Warm clothing
Food and water
Leave the alcohol at home
Charged cell phone
Tell others your plan and timeline

BRRRR: The 15 Coldest Cities in America

You live here. You know how cold it gets, and by now you're probably used to it, but you should probably brace yourself because the National Weather Service issued a La Niña advisory last month and said, "La Niña winters in the southern tier of the US tend to be warmer and drier, while the northern tier and Canada tend to be even colder.

The list below is from Niche. They put together their list of the coldest cities in the county by looking at which ones had "the coldest average low temperatures during the winter months." Keep scrolling to see the 15 coldest cities in the United States.