Winter is making a halting arrival along the St. Croix River. Cold temperatures for the past week started the process of freeze-up, which is a unique time when ice floes are carried downstream by the current, before the whole river freezes over.

Below are three videos made Wednesday in Marine on St. Croix. One of them is sped up, compressing about 20 minutes of action into about 20 seconds.

The National Park Service also posted interesting photos and information on their Facebook page on Tuesday. It explains how ice forms on branches hanging close to the water’s surface.

Drone pilot Greg Schulz of Pictures over Stillwater also shared a few shots this week.

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