In an ironic, last-minute change, the Polar Bear Plunge has been moved to March 8 because of frigid temperatures. The 18-year tradition has never been cancelled before.
The Polar Bear Plunge is an annual event where thousands of participants take a dip in the Chesapeake Bay in the dead of winter. The event is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Maryland, which Best Buddies participates in.
The water is always cold when the event takes place; however, these temperatures were unprecedented.
“The tipping point was the confluence of three extremes: extreme cold, extreme weather and extreme buildup of ice in the water. We have had each of those separately, but never had all three at the same time,” said Jim Schmutz, president and CEO at Special Olympics Maryland to a WBAL reporter.
In addition, the extremely high winds of up to 30 mph caused waves up to 5 feet high, conditions unsafe for the plunge.
