Ice Balls Dot West Shore

      Everybody wants to know:  what are those things?  They're made of ice.  No, not snow balls-ice balls!  Naturally formed, spherical balls of ice, are floating on the surface of Lake Tahoe as evidence of a rarely seen(in California) event.  During the winter here, the lake's surface temps plunge when cloud cover persists during the short winter days.  Near the shallower sections of the lake in shore, ice forms a thin layer on the surface.  If winds pick up and blow across the ice, the wave action breaks the ice into chunks which are then spun/rolled and these chunks add  more ice in the form of ---balls.
    So, between Tahoe City and Skylandia on the West Shore-ice balls are visible.  Are they good to add to cocktails?  Who knows.  we are waiting for reports to come in to the office.
    Watch out for black ice, white ice, blue ice, ice of any sort when driving out there.  Sure you want to ski early with new tracks/powder conditions; but, be safe, drive slowly especially in shaded areas near trees and sheer walls.  Ice is lurking.  Further story and photos at sfgate.com.