Lake Balaton freezes over completely after nine years – but it is still life-threatening

For the first time since 2017, Lake Balaton has frozen over with a continuous sheet of ice, following several days of persistent, severe frost across Hungary.

Lake Balaton has frozen over, but do not stand on the ice!

The rare winter phenomenon marks a striking moment for the country’s largest lake, but meteorologists are urging the public to stay well away from the ice, warning that it remains dangerously unstable.

According to weather service Időkép, the freezing process was far from straightforward. Although temperatures had been low enough for ice formation in recent days, frequent strong winds repeatedly broke up and shifted floating ice floes across the lake’s surface. These conditions delayed the development of a solid, uninterrupted ice layer.

By early Friday morning, however, the situation changed. Wind speeds dropped significantly, and temperatures near the shoreline fell below –10°C in several locations. This allowed the ice to finally connect into a continuous sheet across the surface of the lake, creating a sight not seen for nearly a decade.

Despite the dramatic freeze, ferry services between Szántód and Tihany remain unaffected for now. Ferries are continuing to operate hourly between 7:00 AM and 5:15 PM, as ice movement has not yet interfered with navigation. Forecasts suggest that further frosty nights could strengthen the ice cover in the coming days.

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Stepping on the surface of the lake is still very dangerous

However, experts strongly caution against interpreting the frozen surface as safe. HungaroMet, Hungary’s national meteorological service, has issued repeated warnings that stepping onto the ice is currently life-threatening.

By Friday morning, ice thickness near Siófok had reached approximately six centimetres. Later that day, heavy snowfall covered the ice with a thick layer of snow: a development that actually slows further ice formation rather than helping it.

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This is how the process works

Meteorologists explain that ice thickens from below, drawing water upward, while freezing air cools the surface from above. Snow acts as an insulating blanket, cutting the ice off from the cold air and significantly reducing the rate at which it can grow thicker. As a result, ice thickness remains highly uneven across the lake.

Further complications are expected over the weekend, as strong winds forecast for Sunday may break up the already unstable ice sheet. This could rapidly worsen conditions and increase the risk for anyone venturing onto the frozen surface.

Authorities stress that Lake Balaton is not suitable for skating or any winter sports at present. Even where the ice appears solid, hidden weak points pose a serious danger.

While the frozen lake offers a rare and visually striking winter scene, experts agree that it should only be admired from the shore, not tested underfoot.