Fort Erie warns public to keep distance from shoreline ice volcanoes

Brent Jones
February 5, 2026 at 10:14 AM

Fort Erie officials are urging residents and visitors to stay well back from the shoreline after ice volcanoes and ice caves formed along parts of the Lake Erie waterfront this week.

In a warning posted to its Facebook page Tuesday, the Town of Fort Erie said the dramatic ice formations can hide open water beneath a thin layer of ice and can collapse without warning, posing a serious risk of injury or drowning.

Ice volcanoes are not true volcanoes, despite their cone-like appearance.

According to information published on the town’s website, they are temporary winter formations created when strong, wind-driven waves push water beneath a shoreline ice shelf. The water is then forced upward through cracks or openings, where it freezes into hollow cones or cave-like structures as temperatures drop.

Because they form over moving water, the town says the ice is often unstable and may sit above open pockets of lake water. Warm air, sun, rain, wind and wave action can quickly weaken the formations, even when they appear solid from shore.

“If you fall through, you can drown,” the town’s website warns, noting that cold water shock can take effect immediately and hypothermia can begin within minutes in near-freezing conditions.

Officials say conditions along the shoreline can change rapidly and that if someone were to fall through the ice, emergency crews may have difficulty reaching them in time. Credit: Town of Fort Erie | Facebook

The town is advising the public not to step onto the ice shelf, climb the formations or enter any ice caves, and to keep children and pets well away from the shoreline. Slips and falls on ice can also result in serious injury, officials say.

Residents are encouraged to view the ice volcanoes only from land and to use zoom lenses if taking photographs. Parking near popular viewing areas is limited, and the town warns that vehicles blocking roads, shoulders or access routes for emergency services may be ticketed by bylaw enforcement or Niagara Regional Police.