Authorities have issued a thin-ice advisory after three vehicles broke through area lakes over the past several days.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office recommended Monday that vehicles not be driven on ice because of warmer weather and heavy slush, which creates hazardous conditions.

On Sunday, a fisherman driving on Lake Minnetonka near the Carson's Bay boat access had two wheels of his pickup break through the ice. That followed an incident on Friday where a fisherman driving on Lake Minnetonka on West Upper Lake broke through the ice in 7 feet of water. And Thursday, a pickup sank after breaking through ice on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.

The drivers in all three incidents escaped without injury.

Avoid channels, experts advise. Also recommended: Wear a life jacket when walking on ice and carry ice picks and rope. Four inches is the minimum ice thickness recommended for safe walking.

STAFF REPORT