Despite several days of freezing temperatures in Prague, experts are issuing urgent warnings against ice skating on the city’s ponds and reservoirs. The ice thickness remains dangerously insufficient, with measurements showing only about 5 centimeters – far below the 15 centimeters required for safe individual skating.
Petra Fišerová, head of communications at Prague City Forests, reports that their winter monitoring of major water bodies, including Hostivař Reservoir, Džbán, Šeberák, and Jiviny, indicates unsafe conditions across the board. The situation isn’t expected to improve soon, with weather forecasts predicting night temperatures between -3 and -5 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures rising to 3-6 degrees.
Despite the warnings, some adventurous Prague residents continue to test their luck. One skater recently shared his experience on the Hamerský pond via Facebook, claiming certain areas were safe while admitting he only ventured onto what he called “white ice”. When confronted about safety concerns, he defended his actions by mentioning he carried safety equipment.
For those seeking a safer skating experience, several official ice rinks remain open across Prague. Praha 2 has extended operations at its rinks until the end of February, with locations at Folimanka, Grébovka, and Sady Svatopluka Čecha available until February 23. The Letná ice rink will also continue operating through the spring break period.