What exactly does snow do to our ice?

[AT Grimaldi]

So I know that snow insulates.

I know that a thick layer of snow will mask thin ice.

However, how do you go out after a foot or two of snow?  I normally just use a chizel to test while I walk.  Will this still work?  Any other ideas?

Is there any point at which the snow with a cold front helps us?

 - ATG

[Bassman]

Chop as you go works for me. Sometimes the water will seep into the snow and freeze
making it thicker. Or seep into the snow and not freeze and weaken the ice.

[MRC2572]

The weight of the snow is going to sink the ice a little bit making it real sloppy around the holes

[marcus]

A foot of snow will make it sloppy the weight will cause the water to seep through any openings/cracks in the ice. Will be a slushy mess . It does not really "hurt" the safety of the ice assuming you have a decent 4-5" to begin with. I live in lake effect snow country and deal with feet of snow regularly. Over time this can make white ice, but it takes a while. I can't find any actual good ice to fish this year, everytime the lakes cap over the snow stops the ice at an inch or 2 it is driving me nuts, but if there were enough ice the knee deep snow wouldn't stop me.

[_Icecold_]

Checked some ice today. there is about 3-6 inches of snow ontop with about two inches of slush ontop of the ice. I didn't go out to far, but it doesn't seem that bad.