Mysterious Rotating Ice Disk in Maine is Back, and Onlookers Are Ready to Witness Its Formation

A river in New York was the first to see the strange occurrence in 2019. For some reason, it didn't make an appearance last winter after appearing only partially the year before - but it's back and creating headlines once again, according to Accuweather. 

There have been previous appearances of this disc. The first time it emerged, in the month of January of this year, it made national news. 

In 2020, the City of Westbrook tweeted, "ICE BREAKING NEWS: Ice Disk 2020 is making a run for it ... It's not a perfect circle yet, but it is rotating counter-clockwise again & the seagulls are along for the ride."

After its first debut in 2019 as a 100-yard-wide (91-meters-wide) ice formation before melting away as the temperature increased, Ice Disk 2020 never fully formed and was not destined for international recognition as happened during its initial appearance. 

Ice Disk 2022, on the other hand, appears to be attracting a lot of attention. Westbrook city officials posted images of the disk on Facebook on Jan. 12 and urged residents to do the same. 

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Formation of the Ice Disk

According to Chris Horvat, a polar oceanographer at Brown University, ice disks are an extremely rare phenomena. When the first ice disk appeared in 2019, Horvat collaborated with the city on a camera to monitor the ice's progress. 

According to Horvat, ice disks occur as a result of a river's structure and the temperature of the air. The river bend in Westbrook, Maine, a suburb about 20 miles west of Portland, where the disk was formed by back eddies, is responsible for the formation of the disk. 

A vortex-like flow pattern is what results, as Horvat explained to Brown University. Ice that has formed further downstream will collide with this vortex and generate a larger piece. It's symmetrical because it's rubbing against the bank of the river as it spins.

(Photo : Getty Images)

How Weather Influences the Ice Disk

The disk's next move will be influenced by the weather. In extremely cold weather, the water around the disk may freeze, preventing it from spinning. One day it may even be covered by the river-crossing ice. 

The scenario appears possible, given the impending arrival of Arctic air in the Midwest and its movement into the Northeast later this week and into the following week. 

Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous disk are urged by city officials not to try to walk on it, but rather to snap photos or videos.

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