The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends at least 4 inches of ice to walk, and at least 5 inches for a snowmobile or an ATV. Up to a foot of ice can support a car, but an SUV needs more than that to support it.

Those guidelines, though, really only apply to newer, clear ice. When melting snow blends in to make a whiter-looking ice, air bubbles reduce its buoyancy, which means you should measure at least double the depth before venturing out.

To read the full story, visit the CBS Minnesota News site here.