MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — There’s a warning about snowmobiles and ice following two deaths in Wright County during the weekend.

With so little snow on the ground this season many snowmobilers may be tempted to take their sleds on frozen lakes.

Leland Owens of the Minnesota DNR has a safety message:

“We advice them to use extreme caution before venturing out onto ice — especially in a winter such as this, where we’ve had a variety of warm and cold weather temperatures,” Owens said.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Steve Murphy Reports

Two young men — recent graduates of Rockford High School — died when their snowmobile went into open water
on Lake Charlotte.

Another concern is that once the snow does come a lot of anxious snowmobilers will hit the trails all at once.

This happens to be Snowmobile Safety Awareness Week in Minnesota.

Last year 13 people died in snowmobile accidents in the state.